Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton in IBAC claim

A former police officer has accused deputy Commissioner Shane Patton of breaching his human rights by asking his doctor to answer questions about the officer’s mental condition.

Former Senior Sergeant David Bishop said he was bullied by then Superintendent Dean Stevenson in 2011.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton has been ­accused of breaching a former officer’s “human rights” when he asked his doctor to answer 23 questions about the officer’s mental condition.

Former senior sergeant David Bishop said Mr Patton’s handling of his discipline ­proceedings had exacerbated a mental condition and he had lodged a complaint with the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

Mr Bishop was medically retired from the force in 2013 after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Former Senior Sergeant David Bishop said he was bullied by then Superintendent Dean Stevenson in 2011.

He said his condition was the result of bullying by a senior officer. He said the discipline charges — of time sheet alterations and conduct unbecoming — were laid after he made a bullying complaint against then Superintendent Dean Stevenson in 2011.

In November 2012, Mr Patton, then an assistant commissioner, rejected Mr Bishop’s request to delay the discipline hearing unless his doctor agreed to submit him to a ­mental health examination.

Mr Bishop said this was ­despite Victoria Police’s own doctors saying he was mentally unfit for work.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton. Picture: AAP

“It was an outrageous request and I felt that my human rights had been violated,” he said. “I thought it was just a furtherance of the bullying I’d already endured and was shocked such a senior officer would make such demands.”

But a Victoria Police spokesman said Mr Patton was confident he handled Mr Bishop’s matter in accordance with the “principles of natural justice and procedural fairness”.

The internal discipline charges were withdrawn on Mr Bishop’s retirement. He also has a WorkCover claim against Victoria Police, alleging it did not protect him from bullying in the workplace, causing a permanent impairment and his early retirement.

Superintendent Dean Stevenson was accused of bullying.

He was among several officer to complain about Supt Stevenson, the commander of Melbourne’s northern region. Mr Stevenson left the force last year during a WorkSafe investigation after several officers — not including Mr Bishop — complained about a toxic work environment under his watch.

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It is believed the Office of Public Prosecutions has been given a brief of evidence on bullying allegations against Mr Stevenson but no charges have been laid against him or ­Victoria Police.

A Victoria Police spokesman was not aware of Mr ­Bishop’s complaint to IBAC.

“That said, deputy Commissioner Patton is confident that his handling of the matter accorded with the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness, with the wellbeing of Mr Bishop being at the forefront of his considerations,” the spokesman said.

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