Victoria police officer who allegedly performed Nazi salute escapes without criminal charges
Victoria Police has confirmed it has finished an investigation into a sergeant who allegedly performed a Nazi salute at the Victoria Police Academy, deciding he will not face criminal charges.
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A police officer will not face criminal charges over allegedly performing a Nazi salute.
Victoria Police has confirmed it has finished an investigation into the sergeant making the gesture at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley in October.
The sergeant from the People Development Command allegedly made the salute twice.
A force statement said internal investigators from professional standards command had compiled a brief of evidence over the “public performance of a Nazi gesture”.
The brief was then sent to the Office of Public Prosecutions to be assessed.
“We have since received advice from OPP that, based on the circumstances, there is no reasonable prospect of conviction,” the statement said.
“This ends the criminal component of the investigation, and the sergeant will now be subject to an internal discipline investigation.”
The officer who remains under internal investigation has been a member of Victoria Police for more than 40 years and worked as an instructor in the family violence division.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton slammed the alleged conduct as “abhorrent” after it was made public in October.
It comes after laws were introduced last year making the Nazi salute illegal.
Far-right figure Jacob Hersant was last November sentenced to one month in prison for performing the gesture in public.
The 25-year-old was later bailed pending an appeal.
A month after the allegations against the officer became public, a 37-year-old Bell Post Hill man allegedly performed the salute in front of police as they patrolled Flemington’s Oaks Day racing event.
There were no complaints from the public about the man, who is believed to have no extremist associations.
Originally published as Victoria police officer who allegedly performed Nazi salute escapes without criminal charges
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