Its Damaging;police chief.by andrew Webster. Public confidence in the Victorian police was being damaged by continuing allegations of corruption in the force,Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said yesterday.(sat) Confirming reports that ongoing investigations into the drug squad had spread to suburban and regional stations,Ms Nixon said increased resources were being deployed to try and bring them to a rapid conclusion. The Commissioner said investigators were looking at individuals who had previously worked for the drug squad and had moved to other parts of the Victoria police,some of whom had left the force. But she said officers would not be suspended immediately allegations were made against them."When we have sufficient evidence we will take that step," she said. Problems with Victorias drug squad extend back many years.One former drug squad senior detective was jailed for five years in May 2000 for stealing seized chemicals;another serving officer has been charged with dealing in ecstasy;a former drug squad detective has been charged with drug trafficking;and in June last year one officer died from a drug overdose. (I was raided and robbed on June 1 last June btw.Some stuff of mine went missing.) Commissioner Nixon said major changes had been made to the drug squad but some of the recommendations by Police Ombudsman Dr Barry Perry had not yet been implemented because of continuing negotiations with the Victorian police association.Ms Nixon said she hoped to have an agreements in place by next month. But police Association secretary Paul Mullet denied the public had lost faith in drug investigators.He said the Association was at an early stage of discussions over drugs policy and had not yet been presented with the chief commissioner's detailed position on negotiations. Problems with corruption were also a matter of funding,according to Mr Mullet,which could best be tackled by bringing the Ethical standards Dept. up to strength. Dr Perry is due to present a report to parliament detailing the extent of current inquiry into drug squad corruption. He said last week the reforms so far included renaming and restructuring the Dept. but had not gone far enough.Dr Perry said the drug squad may have to be disbanded.