Police in Australia investigated for racist and pornographic e-mails

ADELAIDE, Australia - About 100 Australian police are being investigated for circulating racist and pornographic e-mails via the internal police e-mail system, and one officer involved in the scandal has committed suicide, a top official said Thursday.



March 25, 2010

The investigation in Victoria state follows an independent citizens group report last week that police in the state capital Melbourne have targeted, taunted and beaten African teens, accusing the department of having a "culture of racism."

Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland acknowledged at the time that some officers were racist but said they were a small minority, and in announcing the e-mail probe Thursday he noted that the material involved a variety of offensive themes, including pornographic and sexist material. The officer who committed suicide was not responsible for racist material, Overland said.

Overland refused to elaborate on the content of the e-mails, saying none of it was illegal but that all of it was offensive and in breach of department policy.

"It's a mix of racist and pornographic and otherwise offensive material," he told reporters. "There are varying degrees of involvement and varying degrees of seriousness."

He would not confirm whether any of the racist material referred to Africans or Indians. Both groups have been the target of violence in Victoria state and have criticized police conduct in recent months.

The Age newspaper reported that the investigation centered on a graphic image of a non-Caucasian man being tortured. There were no other details on the image.

The months-long investigation led to two officers receiving what is called a Section 68 - notice that the commissioner has lost confidence in the officers and giving them a chance to explain why they should not be dismissed - for introducing the material into the police system.

The other officers are being questioned for further circulating the e-mails, sometimes adding inappropriate comments of their own.

"It's extremely disappointing that people would behave in this way," Overland said. "They've let us down and they've let themselves down and we'll have to deal with it."

Overland confirmed that a police officer who committed suicide earlier this week was one of two given the Section 68.

Tony Vangorp, 47, tendered his resignation Friday and returned to the police station Monday night and shot himself. Overland said Vangorp had not been responsible for any racist e-mails.

"A tragic event has happened," Overland said. "It's deeply, deeply regrettable and we need to learn the lessons but it doesn't mean that I can or should avoid my responsibilities around the good order and governance of Victoria Police."

The state police department has 13,800 employees, including police officers, public servants and protective security officers.

Overland said his goal in disciplining the officers was to uphold the department's values and keep the confidence of the community.

"How can a community have confidence in this organization if we allow racist, sexist, pornographic, inappropriate material to circulate freely around the organization?" Overland asked. "We can't do it."

Source: The Associated Press

 

Video: Vic police officers investigated over emails (7pm TV News NSW)

Audio: 100 police investigated over offensive emails (The World Today)

 

Top cop defends action over racist emails

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has defended his crackdown against the circulation of racist and pornographic emails among officers.


Simon Overland says emails distributed on
the Victoria Police email system are
"disturbing, offensive and gross".

March 25, 2010

About 100 officers are being investigated for the alleged mis-use of the police email system - one of whom was a sergeant who took his own life in Healesville on Monday.

The Police Association says Mr Overland's approach assumes targeted officers are guilty, but Mr Overland says that is just spin and he has had to take strong and decisive action over the matter. "This is about maintaining the confidence of the Victorian community in Victoria Police," he said. "How can a community have confidence in this organisation if we allow racist, sexist, pornographic material to circulate freely around the organisation? We can't do it."

Commissioner Overland says the emails distributed on the Victoria Police email system are "disturbing, offensive and gross". "There are quite a large number of police officers who have become involved. They won't all face dismissal. But it is quite widespread," he said. Commissioner Overland will not describe the emails, but says they do not contain any illegal material.

But he says they do include racism and pornography and the Police Ethical Standards Department has been investigating the matter for months. "The material we're talking about, I believe, is highly offensive and would shock the community," he said. "There are various and varying degrees of involvement and we'll need to treat each case on its merits."

Read more: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

Just like their British cousins in a rainy little island, the Australians are going to cover up and deny this or defend themselves by blaming others.

 

exactly how can they cover up this when its been broadcast on the news? how can they deny it when the Chief Commissioner has spoken in public about it? how would they blame others? from what i see they are owning up to it and cracking down on the officers in question.

 

Ah, but then it's not news Tarshi. It's more fun to make it into a scandal. Scandal sells, even if it's not true. :smt011