Four officers who lied about the fatal police shooting of a mentally-ill man have been recommended for criminal prosecution by the NSW police watchdog.
In addition, a senior officer who led the investigation into the incident, another who reviewed the investigation and another who created a false public report have been recommended for disciplinary action.
The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) tabled its findings in state parliament on Wednesday into the death of Adam Salter.
Mr Salter, 36, died from a gunshot wound in the kitchen of his father's home in Sydney's Lakemba in November 2009 while he was attempting to stab himself in the neck.
Four officers, including the shooter Sergeant Sheree Bissett and Probationary Constable Aaron Abel, said Mr Salter was in contact with Const Abel when he was shot.
Paramedics and the victim's father said there was no contact.
"Having formed the opinion that Abela did not come into physical contact with Adam Salter before Adam Salter was shot, the commission is further of the opinion that the accounts and evidence given by each of the police officers that Abela did come into physical contact with Adam Salter before Adam Salter was shot were false and knowingly false," the report states.
The commission found Sgt Bissett, Const Abela, Leading Senior Constable Leah Wilson and Senior Constable Emily Metcalfe lied.
It also found Sgt Bissett and Const Wilson lied when they told the commission Sgt Bissett challenged Mr Salter to drop the knife and allowed time for him to comply before he was shot.
Media statements and media releases issued by the NSW Police Force immediately following the shooting were also found to be "untrue and supplied senior police and the public with a seriously false version of the events".
The internal critical incident investigation, led by Detective Inspector Russell Oxford into the shooting was flawed.
"... Oxford disregarded the evidence of the civilian witnesses," the report states. He also assisted Sgt Bissett by "improperly asking leading questions" during a walkthrough interview of the incident.
Detective Inspector Stephen Tedder led a review of the investigation and praised Det Insp Oxford's work, disregarding the evidence of the Mr Salter's father and the paramedics.
The commission found Sgt Bissett, Const Abela, Const Wilson and Const Metcalfe engaged in police misconduct and recommended criminal prosecution.
Det Insp Oxford, Det Insp Tedder and Inspector Matthew Hanlon also engaged in police misconduct but the commission did not form the opinion they should be prosecuted.
However, it recommended Commissioner Andrew Scipione take action which could include a demotion in rank.
Inspector Matthew Hanlon prepared a situation report containing false statements and did not record who supplied him with information that Sgt Bissett challenged Mr Salter to drop the knife.
That report and subsequent situation reports formed the basis of statements issued to the public.
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