Fed: Evicted cop relishes Big Brother experience

00-00-0000
Fed: Evicted cop relishes Big Brother experience

By Dale Paget

GOLD COAST, April 29 AAP - He was evicted before walking through the front door butSenior Constable Brett Jensen still loved every minute he didn't spend inside the BigBrother house.

The quickest expulsion in the history of the reality TV series came when QueenslandPolice Commissioner Bob Atkinson personally advised the Sunshine Coast detective to dropout before the season opener on Sunday night.

The Sunshine Coast detective, who had been in isolation prior to the show, watchedthe rain and razzmatazz from backstage after informing producers he would not be competingfor the $250,000 in prize money.

"Even though it was short-lived, I loved the experience and time I spent with Big Brother,"

he said in a statement issued by the program.

"Unfortunately circumstances beyond my control prevented me from doing anymore.

"Due to conflict with my employment as a police officer and the nature of my work itwas not to be."

Snr Const Jensen took long service leave to be part of the program and was selectedfrom 30,000 applicants.

But an hour before the Big Brother premiere he informed producers that going on wouldrisk his employment as a police officer.

Commissioner Atkinson had advised the 10-year veteran it would be unprofessional andnot in the interests of the force for a serving police officer to appear in the series.

Big Brother producers went to extraordinary lengths to hide Snr Const Jensen's lastminute withdrawal - even issuing a brief statement from the policeman along with the otherentrants on Sunday night and repeatedly confirming to the media he was the 16th housemate.

"I get along with people from all walks of life which is supported by the fact thatsome of my crooks like and respect me," Snr Const Jensen said in the statement on Sunday.

Today the detective was determined not to ruffle any more feathers in the police force.

"I feel sympathy with the police department for having to make these decisions," he said.

A spokesman for the program said the policeman would not be replaced with another housemate.

AAP dp/sc/mg/bwl

KEYWORD: BROTHER NIGHTLEAD