Peter Stephenson, a former undercover policeman from Queensland, Australia, who worked on drug cases and later quit because of psychological, alcohol and drug problems he developed as a result, is seeking, along with several other former policemen, damages from the State Government for negligence leading to personal injury.
He began undercover work when he was a “green, so-boy-next-door” 23-year-old, after a couple of months earlier having “barely passed” a three-week training course that he felt was grossly inadequate. He was taught “drug lingo” but didn’t actually see any drugs up close. As smoking marijuana for the people he was supposed to be eventually busting “was like having a beer” he had to be shown by colleagues at one of their homes how to use a bong.
While it takes one to know one he eventually was to become one. During his two years on assignment he nearly blew his cover several times, was constantly stoned on the job and slowly but surely disintegrated under the pressure of the job. Things came to a head after a day at the beach with his pregnant wife turned into a nightmare as some criminals he had dealt with in the past turned up and threatened him.
He quit and went back to uniformed work but says he never recovered. Retiring from the police force in 2001 on medical grounds, he now works as a salesman. Suffering from depression and with a broken marriage behind him, he is looking for A$800,000 in damages.
In response, Queensland Police have stated that before he went undercover he was given psychological testing and was offered supervision and support during and after his stint undercover.