The lawyer for suspended senior Police officer Det. Chief Inspector Stuart Crockwell has demanded his immediate reinstatement, has learned.

Det. Chief Insp. Crockwell was suspended on two-thirds pay from his post as head of the serious crimes unit last week following the launch of a investigation into a construction company in which he is involved.

The investigation is in connection with the alleged disappearance of money from Bascro Construction, which the officer established with Andrew Bascome.

Yesterday, lawyer Mark Pettingill said the decision to suspend the officer was ?outrageous and inconsistent?. He said he had not ruled out legal action if the reinstatement is not forthcoming.

Mr. Pettingill compared his client?s case with the allegations of Police brutality and dishonesty which surrounded the recently concluded drug importation trial of former Dunkley?s Dairy employees Michael Madeiros and Steven Flood, whom he also represented.

An internal Police investigation into the allegations ? which is in the hands of the Department of Public Prosecutions and was headed by Insp. Craig Morfitt ? recommended the prosecution of several officers for assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice. However, none of these officers were suspended at any stage.

?I have written to the Commissioner of Police (Jonathan Smith) laying out our position and urging my client?s reinstatement,? he said.

?Det. Chief Insp. Crockwell has not even been interviewed yet by the fraud department. Quite simply I am astounded that my client has been suspended while an internal Police investigation recommended the criminal prosecution of several narcotics officers for brutality and dishonesty ? and yet they are still at work.

?From our standpoint this is an outrageously inconsistent way of dealing with your Police officers and we are currently trying to uncover on what possible grounds the suspension was made.?

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines yesterday refused to be drawn on Mr. Pettingill?s comments, saying only that an investigation into the allegations against Det. Chief Inspector Crockwell ?is ongoing? and that he is not at liberty to discuss the specifics of any internal matter with the media.