Victoria’s corruption watchdog has said no charges will be filed against the former Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police Brett Guerin over “damaging” social media posts made under a pseudonym.
The Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission has concluded that although Guerin’s behaviour was “generally offensive, it does not meet the standard of ‘offensive’ currently required to file charges under the Criminal Code”.
“As part of Operation Turon, IBAC examined the outcomes of complaints made to Professional Standards Command that may have been adversely affected by bias on the part of Mr Guerin, and considered the adequacy of relevant Victoria Police policies relating to internet and social media use by Victoria Police employees,” the watchdog said in a statement on Monday.
“IBAC’s investigation found no evidence of actual bias. Regardless of this, this behaviour risked damaging the integrity of, and confidence in, Victoria Police investigations.
“IBAC has informed Victoria Police of the findings of this investigation, and identified opportunities for improvements in Victoria Police policies and practices.”
Guerin — who was also head of the Professional Standards Command — resigned last year after being caught making racist YouTube comments and “crude” remarks about his colleagues under a fake name.
He admitted to making sexually “inappropriate” comments about former police chief commissioner Christine Nixon and former police Victorian Police Association boss Paul Mullett.
“It’s crude and coarse language and, you know, what I’m most ashamed about is my mother and my daughters have read it now,” he told 3AW last year.
While the investigation into Guerin’s conduct has wrapped up, IBAC says it will look into “leadership failures” within the police force to be delivered in a report for the state parliament in 2020.
“The special report will draw on issues highlighted in this and other recent IBAC investigations that involve allegations of police misconduct and corruption by senior leaders within Victoria Police,” IBAC said.
The corruption body is also conducting an audit of Victoria Police’s handling of complaints by Aboriginal people.
The audit will look at 55 files closed by the force during 2018 and aims to identify issues, areas of improvement, and good practice. IBAC also hopes to raise awareness of their police oversight role among Aboriginal people and will engage with relevant community and Aboriginal organisations.
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