Top cop admits he's under investigation
The investigation into a 'senior police officer' was first revealed on Sunday and Mr Stevens outed himself as the subject of the probe in a radio interview with Adelaide station FIVEaa on Wednesday.
'I thought I'd take the opportunity to come on and just maybe clear the air and put people out of their misery as to who the senior officer was that 34 years accidentally discharged their firearm while doing a police raid on a heroin dealer,' he said.
'The officer concerned was actually me.'
In the incident, a bullet was fired into a house in the city's northern suburbs.
Nobody was hurt, Mr Stevens said, and the discharge was recorded with the police's internal investigation branch. SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has served in the police for more than 40 years. NewsWire / Brenton Edwards Credit: News Corp Australia
'This is an incident that was managed in accordance with our procedures back at the time,' Mr Stevens said.
'We were attempting to force entry into a house where a drug dealer was trying to get rid of drugs.
'And in the course of breaking a window to gain entry, I did discharge my firearm.
'My supervisor was there at the time. I did the police report that was necessary and it was reported to internal investigations branch on the day.'
Mr Stevens has denied reports of a second accidental discharge.
SA Police has been contacted for comment.
Mr Stevens has led SA Police since 2015 and is contracted until 2028.
This year, he was a nominee in the Australian of the Year awards.
'Grant is known for his authoritative yet good-humoured leadership during the Covid pandemic when his high-profile job saw him become a household name,' his nomination states.
'He is also deeply respected for his strength and capacity for forgiveness in the face of awful loss.
'In 2023, Grant's youngest son Charlie passed away after being hit by a car.
'Grant and his wife Emma chose to ask mourners to donate to Operation Flinders Foundation in lieu of flowers. Over $217,000 has so far been donated towards the future of young and disadvantaged South Australians.'
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