UPDATE: In a dramatic court hearing, Alexander James Cox, the nephew of former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, is fighting to overturn his dismissal from the NSW Police Force after sharing explicit material with colleagues. The incident, which involved sharing pornography over an 18-month period, has sparked intense debate about police conduct and accountability.
Cox, aged 31, was removed from the police force in March 2024 following revelations of his actions. While he was acquitted of criminal charges related to recording and distributing intimate images without consent, his dismissal was upheld due to the nature of the pornographic content he shared. His lawyer, Paul McGirr, argues that Cox’s jokes were taken out of context, stating, “If the threshold for dismissing a police officer is for cracking bad or distasteful jokes, the State of NSW would have grave difficulties in staffing its police force.”
During a hearing at the Industrial Relations Commission in June, Cox referred to his actions as a “silly mistake” and claimed he was subjected to a “witch hunt” by then-Commissioner Karen Webb. However, deputy president Jane Paingakulam dismissed his lawsuit on Tuesday, labeling him an “unimpressive witness” lacking insight into his misconduct. She found his aggressive response to the allegations concerning, indicating that he showed no real remorse for his actions.
Cox’s termination was partly attributed to sharing an explicit video with colleagues, falsely claiming the woman in the clip was someone who could not be identified for legal reasons. In a previous ruling, Magistrate Holly Kemp condemned his behavior as “utterly in poor taste, grubby, juvenile and unacceptable.”
In a significant twist, during the same ruling, three additional complaints against Cox were deemed less serious and did not justify dismissal. These included incidents where he played explicit audio at the encouragement of a superior officer and shared explicit content during a private weekend getaway with colleagues.
Despite the legal setbacks, McGirr insists that an appeal will be lodged, expressing confidence that “common sense” will ultimately prevail. He described Cox as an exemplary police officer, arguing that “if there were more officers in the ranks with even half his level of competency, the Police Force would be in much better shape to serve and protect the people of NSW.”
As the case develops, the implications for police conduct and accountability in New South Wales remain critical. The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.
For those in need of support, assistance is available through the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service at 1800 737 732.
