‘Inappropriate memes’ found on police officer’s social media page
A police officer who earlier this week came under scrutiny for a hand signal at a chaotic Melbourne protest posted “inappropriate” content to his personal social media page, Victoria Police have confirmed.
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Victoria Police officer is under fire from force command over posting “inappropriate memes” allegedly linked to the controversial alt-right movement.
The officer has come under scrutiny after he was photographed during this week’s anti-mining protests in Melbourne making a hand gesture that was claimed by some to be a white supremacy signal.
Victoria Police said they reviewed complaints over the gesture and it was inconclusive whether he had been misinterpreted and was simply asking protesters ‘are you OK?’.
However the same officer’s use of social media has landed him in strife.
Victoria Police confirmed in a statement on Saturday afternoon the officer was being investigated for his use of social media.
“We are aware of a small number of posts which include inappropriate memes,” the statement said.
“Under no circumstances are these posts reflective of the values of Victoria Police. The officer has been spoken to about these posts and, although they were made more than 12 months ago, he is aware of our extreme disappointment.”
It said while officers were entitled to have personal social media accounts, “we do not want or expect them to be including content which may offend members of the community”.
The memes would be subject to review and Victoria Police was assessing whether further action was required.
It comes after another officer landed in hot water for a derogatory sticker he posted on his body camera during the clashes out the front of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The anti-riot officer is facing potential disciplinary action after a photo showed the sticker that read ‘EAD hippy’. EAD is an acronym for ‘eat a d--k’.
Victoria Police spokesman Cameron Scott said on Friday night: “We have identified the police officer … and can confirm the image is real.
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“We are still working to ascertain how and why this comment was on his camera.
“The community can be reassured this is not the type of behaviour we expect from our officers and we are extremely disappointed by the situation.”