NSW officer demoted after assaulting patient on hospital gurney
Officer Hyde was found guilty of assault but kept his job, losing rank and two years of restricted duties.
Leading Senior Constable Steven Hyde hit a man in the head at Blacktown Hospital in November 2023. The incident was captured on hospital CCTV and body-worn camera; ABC News obtained the footage exclusively.
The man had been brought to hospital by paramedics after a suspected drug overdose and was not under arrest. When officers arrived, the man was being wheeled into the emergency department on a gurney with his legs strapped down.
He held a vape in one hand and a water bottle in the other. Officer Hyde confiscated the vape.
The man threw the water bottle over his shoulder. Officer Hyde then struck him in the side of the head.
Officer Alo then restrained the man and handcuffed him. Officer Hyde later claimed self-defence.
A local court found him guilty. NSW Police say the outcome includes loss of rank and two years of restricted duties.
Why it mattersRaises questions about police accountability and whether disciplinary consequences match the severity of misconduct captured on video.
AustraliaNSW residents are affected by police conduct standards and the processes used to investigate and discipline officers.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 d ago
