Former NSW Police officer Michael Hoogvelt has given evidence in his ongoing misconduct trial at Lismore District Court, describing several experiences from his police career and the personal impact they had on him. Hoogvelt is facing allegations relating to his conduct while serving as a police officer at Wagga Wagga and later Tweed Heads. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trial concerns allegations that Hoogvelt accessed the NSW Police Force's internal Computerised Operational Policing System (COPS) to assist a man known to him who was allegedly involved in cocaine dealing. Prosecutors allege that the access was connected to a benefit involving cocaine. The defence has acknowledged that Hoogvelt accessed the database, but disputes whether the access was unauthorised or improper.

Hoogvelt, who is 52, told the court about his background before joining the police. He grew up in Wagga Wagga and worked as a commercial baker before entering the NSW Police Force in about 2003. His first police posting was at Narrandera in the Riverina before he later moved to Wagga Wagga, where he worked in highway patrol from approximately 2009 until 2019.

During his evidence, Hoogvelt recalled attending a serious two-car crash in 2016. He told the jury that when he arrived, one vehicle was burning and a person was trapped and calling for help. With assistance from a bystander, he was able to remove a person from the vehicle. He later received recognition for bravery. He said the incident affected his approach to police work and encouraged him to see people more personally rather than simply as cases or statistics.

Hoogvelt also described the impact of the death of a police supervisor whom he respected. He told the jury that his supervisor had returned from leave and made comments indicating that he was struggling. The supervisor later died by suicide while on duty. Hoogvelt described the experience as deeply damaging and said he questioned whether he should have acted differently after the conversation.

The court has also previously heard evidence about Hoogvelt's relationship with a man referred to as “Bub” or “Bubby.” Prosecutors allege that the two exchanged thousands of messages and had a close friendship. Evidence presented to the jury has included messages and video material relating to their interactions.

The prosecution alleges that Hoogvelt used his police access to assist his friend with criminal activity and received cocaine as a benefit. The defence position is that although database access occurred, the central question is whether that access was actually unauthorised or improper.

Hoogvelt later transferred from Wagga Wagga to Tweed Heads in April 2024. Around that period, internal investigators obtained an interception warrant and monitored his phone. He was arrested and charged in July 2024 and is currently on bail.

The trial is being heard before Judge John Pickering in Lismore District Court and is expected to continue for several days. The proceedings remain ongoing, meaning no final finding of guilt has been made.

For your app, the story should therefore be presented as an ongoing court case and allegation, not as established wrongdoing. The final outcome will depend on the evidence heard by the court and the eventual decision in the proceedings.