Crossword Genius

Officer dispatched to collect bent gear (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sergeant

'officer' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'dispatched to collect bent gear' is the wordplay.
'dispatched' becomes 'sent' (I've seen this before**).
'to collect' is an insertion indicator.
'bent' indicates anagramming the letters.
'gear' is an anagram of 'rgea'.
'sent' going around 'rgea' is 'SERGEANT'.

(Other definitions for sergeant that I've seen before include "Gets near (anag) -- NCO" , "CARRY ON FILM" , "Army rank" , "Troy" , "Police rank" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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