Former sergeant Mark Sims admits to causing disaffection among police officers

A former sergeant who intimidated officers at Kyneton Police Station by scrawling “beware of the rats” on a whiteboard says he was referring to a rodent infestation.

Victoria Police sergeant Mark Sims pleaded guilty to one charge of causing disaffection among police officers. Picture: Supplied

A former cop who intimidated other officers by writing “beware of the rats” inside a police station claimed he was referring to a rodent infestation.

Former Sergeant Mark Sims fronted Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he admitted he wrote the phrase on a whiteboard inside Kyneton Police Station in November 2020.

He was initially facing 10 offences, including more serious charges of misconduct in public office and influencing witnesses over allegations he took “detrimental action” against a police officer who had made a complaint about another colleague.

But those charges were withdrawn at Wednesday’s hearing, with Mr Sims, who was on the Victorian Police Association’s board, instead admitting to a single charge of causing disaffection among police officers for tagging the whiteboard.

Crown prosecutor Erin Ramsay earlier said had the case proceeded, she would have called a police officer to give evidence about Mr Sims allegedly joking about the “double entendre” of the marking as the station did have a rat infestation at the time of the incident.

“Therefore it was a comment made … with other intentions?” magistrate Ross Maxted asked her.

“Yes,” she replied.

She added Mr Sims had told another officer there had been no rodent control at the station for several months.

The hearing was stood down while negotiations took place between Ms Ramsay and Mr Sims’ defence barrister Paul Smallwood before a diversion agreement was reached.

When the hearing returned, Mr Sims, who has since left the force, appeared in court via video link from an aircraft that was about to take off, raising eyebrows from Mr Maxted.

“Looks like he’s in the pointy end of the plane,” he said.

The magistrate placed Mr Sims on a diversion program for 12 months and ordered him to donate $750 each to Beyond Blue and Police Legacy.

“Mr Sims has acknowledged his responsibility for charge four,” Mr Maxted said.

“It has been effectively posed to be adjourned by me placing the accused man Mark Sims on an adjourned proceeding known as a diversion plan.”

He added it was in the court’s interest to avoid a five-day hearing that would have seen a number of witnesses, including police, called to give evidence.

If Mr Sims sticks to the conditions and maintains good behaviour throughout the order, the criminal charge against him will be struck out.