The Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes is reaching the end of its probe into the investigative practices of NSW Police between 1970 and 2010.
It delved into record-keeping practices of homicide detectives and the impacts of poor file management on unsolved homicide cases.
Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty has been a sworn officer since 1985, and was promoted to homicide squad commander in 2019.
The inquiry was shown a 2016 report delving into issues concerning the location, identification and reconciliation of exhibits relating to unsolved homicides.
Supt Doherty said he was aware of "ongoing issues of recalling or tracking down exhibits and records".
The commander conceded the longstanding issue of missing records was "notorious" even when he appointed commander.
"When you assumed the role in December 2019, is it fair for me to conclude that the problems with documents ... were notorious within unsolved homicide?" Justice John Sackar asked.
"It was well known, yes," Supt Doherty said.
The inquiry was told issues of poor record-keeping have been ongoing under Supt Doherty's leadership at the Homicide Squad with evidence not being archived or stored properly, left in various police premises and in some cases non-police premises with no record to indicate movement.
"That's been very frustrating, and it's been difficult to manage," Supt Doherty said.
He also admitted that while missing evidence was not an issue in a large number of unsolved homicides, there have been instances of matters not being able to progress because of the lack of records or available forensic material.
The inquiry will return to investigate several cases of gay hate crime deaths before Justice Sackar is due to deliver his final report in August.
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