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| NEWS > 12 April 2011 |
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Victorian police watchdog shel
MORE than 20 complaints of racism by Victorian police, including allegations of criminal behaviour, were made to the Office of Police Integrity by lawyers acting for young African Australians between 2006 and 2009.
Only one has been investigated by the OPI and several resulted in charges being laid by police against those who made the complaints in what lawyers describe as "cover charges".
No police officers have been sacked for race-related incidents, despite Chief Commissioner Simon Overland admitting he was aware of several "substantiated cases".
Asked yesterday wheth... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Herald Sun
12 April 2011
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Victoria Police Service
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Australia: Police officer's suicide may have been avoided over email scandal
POLICE command says action taken to discipline an officer who later took his own life was "right and proper".
The Office of Police Integrity is investigating claims that senior police - including Chief Commissioner Simon Overland - overlooked legal advice about how to discipline a police officer who later killed himself.
Healesville sergeant Tony Vangorp fatally shot himself after he was told to expect a Section 68 notice during Operation Barrott, an OPI-Ethical Standards Department probe into pornographic, racist and homophobic emails circulating among police.
The rarely used 68s are rubber-stamped by the Chief Commissioner and demand recipients show cause why they should not be sacked.
The Victorian Government Solicitor's office is believed to have issued formal advice to senior police that 68s would be inappropriate in those cases. Internal police lawyers gave top brass similar legal advice.
The OPI has been told police may have misapplied their powers by issuing no-confidence notices during the email scandal that swept the force last year.
The officers implicated are Supt Lisa McMeeken, Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius and Mr Overland.
Police Association boss Greg Davies said he was amazed to hear of the allegations Mr Overland had disregarded advice.
"If that's right and if those actions have contributed in any way, shape or form to the death of Tony Vangorp the Chief Commissioner surely cannot remain in office, then there's only one person that's made that decision in blatant disregard for internal and external legal advice that said don't do it, Snr-Sgt Davies said.
But in a statement released today, a Victoria Police spokesperson said police were confident they had followed proper procedure.
"Victoria Police is confident that the steps taken in relation to Sgt Tony Van Gorp in March last year were right and proper. These included, in recognition of the strong public interest in the matter from the outset, asking OPI to actively oversight our investigations," the statement said.
"However we do not believe that the interests of the Van Gorp family are well served by further speculation and unseemly criticism in the media.
"The coronial process, in which we have confidence, must be allowed to run its course."
The spokesperson said police would await the findings of the coronial inquest before making any further comment.
Mr Overland said today he did not ignore legal advice about issuing a disciplinary notice to Sgt Vangorp.
"If there is an OPI investgation into that, thats fine and I welcome that, he said.
"I have absolutely nothing to fear or hide in relation to that particular case.
Mr Overland said he was the only person who could issue the rarely used Section 68 notice, and legal advice surrounding them was often contradictory.
He said Sgt Vangorp resigned after the notice was issued.
Premier Ted Baillieu said today Mr Overland had his full support.
"I haven't seen the issue in detail but the answer is yes (I have faith in Mr Overland)," he said.
The Herald Sun understands that another 68 issued under Barrott - to a senior detective in Geelong - has been withdrawn.
Senior police were advised that a Section 69 notice, which refers suspect officers to a disciplinary hearing, would be a more suitable way to deal with those caught up in Barrott.
Eight officers were sacked and about 13 others fined or demoted after they were found with vile emails on their computers last year. Several have lodged appeals.
An OPI spokesman last night said the office was "actively oversighting Operation Barrott and associated matters".
Sgt Vangorp, a 30-year police veteran, shot himself at his police station last March. His death is before the Coroner's Court.
Of the six 68s issued in Victoria, only one has not been overturned.
In advising against 68 notices, one government solicitor cited a precedent involving a fraud squad member disciplined with a 69 notice for having similarly offensive emails on his computer.
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