Victoria Police senior constable Serena Widmer sacked over ‘racist insult’ about ‘black’ suspect

A Victorian cop with 33 years’ service has been booted from the force after describing a suspect as a “black c--t”.

A 33-year veteran of Victoria Police has been sacked for describing a suspect as a “black c--t”, in a racist office conversation she later tried to downplay as “just an outburst”.

Former leading senior constable Serena Widmer was one of three officers who was internally disciplined over a casual office conversation in which they all repeatedly used the abhorrent racial slur to describe a man under investigation.

The two other officers were issued a formal “admonishment” a low-level internal sanction, and remain on the force.

Ms Widmer admitted to saying, “he is (ethnicity) too, of course he is committing family violence. Oh my god, have a look at him”.

“Have a look at this black c--t.”

The partially-redacted comments were released by the Police Service Review Board, where Ms Widmer unsuccessfully challenged the decision to terminate her employment.

Leading Senior Constable Serena Widmer dusts a shed door for fingerprints in Toorak. Picture: Ellen Smith

One of the other officers, whose name was not disclosed, said, “yeah, he may be a black c--t … He might make a food (chicken dish) … you never know.”

The third officer made similar comments.

But the other officers kept their jobs because an internal investigation concluded their conduct “while deplorable, was of a lesser significance” than Ms Widmer’s.

Ms Widmer’s and her colleagues’ comments were reported by their manager, a highly-respected sergeant, who is of the same ethnic background as the “black” man who was the subject of the racist commentary.

When the sergeant confronted Ms Widmer, she said she “didn’t say anything wrong” and “scoffed and walked away, mumbling under her breath”.

The distressed sergeant took time off work, and in a statement to the disciplinary hearing, said he was “lost for the words to explain the (incident’s) true impact”.

Leading Senior Constable Serena Widmer was sacked by Victoria Police for her use of a racist slur. Picture: Ellen Smith

“It has severely damaged my trust in the team I manage, knowing this is not an isolated matter.”

Ms Widmer’s Police Association lawyer argued she should not have been sacked over the incident, because her comments were an “error of judgment” and that she had a “willingness and ability to learn from a mistake”.

Her lawyer also argued she did not respond to her sergeant because she felt “extremely embarrassed” after he “had a go at her” over her comments.

Ms Widmer was an experienced crime scene investigator, and also complained that her niche skills meant she would struggle to find a job outside of the police force.

But the board upheld the force’s decision to sack Ms Widmer, saying her words were “a slur … in the most serious category of racist insults”.

In its written decision, the board said, “(Ms Widmer) also expressed an adverse judgment about the propensity of someone to commit family violence based on their race, further emphasising the racist nature of the whole discussion.

“Police exercise powerful discretions which can alter the course of someone’s life.

“The overt and clear expression of racist, prejudiced and stereotyped sentiments by any police officer … raises concerns about their capacity to make policing decisions which are fair, lawful, unprejudiced and objective.”

The board said it had “concerns” Ms Widmer’s colleagues had been given “far more lenient treatment”, but that Ms Widmer’s sacking was still justified.

“(Ms Widmer’s) dismissal is a fair, proportional and just outcome,” the board said.