Victoria Police detective sacked after allegations of sharing crime scene pics on messaging app

A Melbourne detective, investigated after photos of Danielle Laidley were leaked, has been dismissed after being accused of sharing photos taken at crime scenes.

A Victorian police officer has been sacked for the allegedly “disgraceful” conduct of sharing crime scene photos on a messaging app.

In a statement, Victoria Police said the former officer has been dismissed following a Victoria Police disciplinary hearing on Monday.

“A detective leading senior constable from Southern Metro Region has been dismissed following a Victoria Police disciplinary hearing on July 24,” a spokeswoman said.

“Professional Standards Command charged the 45-year-old man with one count of disgraceful/improper conduct in February and he was suspended without pay.

“The charge relates to the sharing of crime scene photos via a messaging app.”

No criminal charges have been laid in relation to those photographs.

The officer has been identified as Detective Leading Senior Constable Murray Gentner, who was previously investigated over unrelated leaked photos of Danielle Laidley in 2020, The Age reported.

Mr Gentner won a Detective of the Year award in 2013. Picture: Supplied.

The police spokeswoman said she could not confirm if the officer sacked was Mr Gentner, citing privacy protocols.

Sen Const. Gentner was previously suspended without pay in 2020 amid an internal police investigation into the leaking of photos of former AFL coach Danielle Laidley earlier the same year.

He had been charged in the Magistrates’ Court with misconduct and accessing and disclosing police information without a reasonable excuse.

But he was acquitted last year in separate proceedings, after a magistrate ruled prosecutors had failed to prove his alleged involvement and the charges were dropped.

Dani Laidley (right) said she was exposed to humiliation and ridicule following the leaked photos. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

One photo, which showed Ms Laidley wearing a dress, blonde wig and make up at St Kilda police station, was shared in a WhatsApp group with eight officers called the “SD1 Gentleman’s Club”.

Last year, she reached a confidential settlement with Victoria Police after seeking “aggravated and exemplary” damages for being “brought into public ridicule and contempt”.

It’s understood Mr Gentner was one of four officers charged by the Professional Standards Command with a count of disgraceful and improper conduct following an investigation into the sharing of crime scene photos.

Some of these images included dead bodies, The Herald Sun reported in March.

The three other officers, two detective leading senior constables and one sergeant, will appear before a disciplinary hearing at a later date.