SA Police officer Gabriella Capponi resigns, launches workplace claim over allegations she was subject to bullying and harassment over Aboriginal boyfriend
An ex-SA Police officer, who claims she was bullied out of her job when her colleagues discovered her partner – a former Crow – was Aboriginal, is mounting a workplace claim against the force.
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An ex-SA Police officer who alleges she was bullied out of her job when her colleagues discovered her partner was Aboriginal is mounting a workplace claim against the force.
The Police Association of South Australia is assisting ex-Operation Mandrake officer Gabriella Capponi, including helping her seek legal advice, after she resigned this month.
Miss Capponi met with her lawyers on Tuesday afternoon and confirmed she will pursue a workplace claim.
She claims racist comments started in January this year while she was working on Operation Mandrake – a task force that investigates Aboriginal offenders – and were made continually over a six-month period by a small number of colleagues.
The Advertiser has seen email correspondence between Miss Capponi and SA Police’s Diversity and Inclusion Branch and the SA Police Association, where she has diarised events she claimed to have experienced.
Miss Capponi said a bullying and harassment report was filed in April over one incident where a colleague asked if she “received benefits now her and her partner are living together”.
“One person said ‘does your mate work or does he just steal cars for a living?’,” Miss Capponi said.
“I’d hear them making comments like ‘just another David’. I asked what it meant and they said ‘Get it? David Boon. Rhymes with coon’.
“I got scared going into work, worrying about what comments would be next.”
She contacted SA Police’s Aboriginal Policy Officer in May and was told to write a briefing paper – a report that needed to be approved through the police hierarchy – in order for training to be implemented.
After filing her report in May, Miss Capponi said she was removed from the operation that month and placed in her previous role in the state tactical response group.
She said she was refused a secondment with another branch and went on stress leave in October. She resigned from SA Police on November 12.
“I was scared to come forward ... but it’s important now that change is made,” she said.
“It’s really hard to stand up for yourself in the police because … the culture is if you’re the one who stands up and says something then you’re the one that then becomes the target.”
She said the ordeal caused her severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and affected her relationship with partner Anthony Wilson, a wingman at the Norwood Redlegs Football Club.
Mr Wilson was also a rookie-list player at the Adelaide Crows in 2015 but did not play an AFL game.
State Parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee heard earlier this year that SA Police has had difficulty providing cultural awareness training since August last year because the provider had a lack of staff.
When questioned by The Advertiser, a police spokesman said: “SAPOL has worked closely with Miss Capponi and has provided significant support to her over an extended period of time.
“The other concerns raised by Miss Capponi are ongoing; including her resignation, which has only been recently received. As such, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
The spokesman confirmed SA Police has had difficulties with its cultural awareness training provider, but was committed to providing an “inclusive workplace’’.
“Cultural awareness training has been delivered to all police officers across the organisation and it remains compulsory training for all new recruits,” he said.
“The recruit program includes a number of modules focused upon indigenous people. There has been some difficulty since August 2018 in consistently sourcing indigenous presenters but the training has continued irrespective of this.”
SA POLICE’S FULL RESPONSE
SAPOL has worked closely with Miss Capponi and has provided significant support to her over an extended period of time.
Cultural awareness training has been delivered to all police officers across the organisation and it remains compulsory training for all new recruits.
The recruit program includes a number of modules focussed upon indigenous people. There has been some difficulty since August 2018 in consistently sourcing indigenous presenters but the training has continued irrespective of this.
SAPOL actively promote an inclusive, professional and respectful workplace through our Diversity and Inclusion Branch where all employees are treated fairly; diversity is acknowledged and valued; communication is open and courteous; conflict is addressed early and there exists a positive culture that encourages employees to reach their full potential.
This area plays a major role in providing a continuous platform for cultural awareness across the organisation.
Further to this, in April 2016, Commissioner Grant Stevens commissioned the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) of South Australia to conduct an independent and transparent review to examine the nature and extent of sex discrimination, sexual harassment and predatory behaviour in the South Australia Police.
Out of that review Project Equitas was established to set the foundation to enhance SAPOL as an inclusive organisation where all people are safe, respected and supported to reach their potential with long term cultural change a key focus. Cultural awareness sessions were provided to all staff across the organisation as part of the outcomes of that review.
The other concerns raised by Miss Capponi are ongoing; including her resignation from SAPOL, which has only been recently received. As such, it would be inappropriate to comment further in relation to them.