Victoria Premier Brumby tells police chief to take note of “racist” emails

MELBOURNE - Victoria Premier John Brumby has called on state Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland to take note of the series of “racist and offensive” shared e-mails among police officers.

According to reports, at least 100 officers could face the sack for the emails, which are said to contain racist, homophobic and pornographic content.

“Racism in whatever form is completely unacceptable,” The Herald Sun quoted Brumby, as saying.

“These are matters for the Chief Commissioner to investigate, but he must do this in a way that affords every police officer natural justice,” he added.

Brumby also urged Overland to act “decisively and fairly” to stamp out racism from the force.

Two officers have already been given a “Section 68″, whereby Overland notifies the officers that he has lost confidence in them and they must show cause why they should not be dismissed.

Meanwhile, Victoria Police Association Secretary Senior Sergeant Greg Davies said he would not be surprised if more officers were sacked.

“The way it is now you’ve got to go and prove the Chief Commissioner is wrong. You’re guilty until you prove yourself innocent,” Davies said.

He further said the union did not condone the misuse of work email, and stressed that many officers had done so innocently.

“In the past it has happened, where someone who is not offended by something receive a mail which he sends to somebody else … and then somewhere down the track someone sends it to someone who is offended by it and then, of course … everyone ends up in trouble,” Davies added. (ANI)