Police, Mardi Gras organisers discuss deal for officers to march out of uniform

NSW Police hope to reach an agreement with Mardi Gras organisers for officers to march in Saturday’s parade, possibly without uniforms, after a turbulent day on which questions were raised about Commissioner Karen Webb’s leadership.

Webb had a “fruitful discussion” with Mardi Gras board members on Tuesday morning, just hours before police confirmed they had found the bodies of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly murdered by a gay serving officer last week.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley (L) and Police Commissioner Karen Webb met Mardi Gras organisers to discuss police participation.Credit: Nine

The events, which unfolded during Sydney’s annual Mardi Gras celebrations, have rocked the city’s LGBTQ community and police force and led the community organisation to formally request NSW Police not march in this weekend’s parade.

Some of Webb’s language also drew criticism, including her description of the killings as a “crime of passion” and an attempt to dismiss her critics with a Taylor Swift reference: “There will always be haters, haters like to hate, isn’t that what Taylor says?” she said on morning television.

Webb later apologised for the remarks. She said the Swift reference was made in conversation, and she did not want to detract from the gravity of two young men allegedly murdered in the prime of their lives.

Webb, Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Mardi Gras board members met for an hour on Tuesday following the request, made the previous night, for police to sit out this year’s parade.

NSW Police march in the 2017 Mardi Gras parade.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Police participation in the parade has long been controversial in the LGBTQ community, but the force has marched since 1998, including many LGBTQ personnel and gay and lesbian community liaison officers.

Webb said she would consider an option discussed with Mardi Gras organisers for police to march without uniforms this year. The alleged killer marched in uniform in 2020, with photographs published prominently in recent days.

“I haven’t ruled it out. As the commissioner, I can make those decisions. I will talk with both the corporate sponsor and some of those officers to see how they feel,” Webb said.

“We’ve all been rocked. There’s some positives that could come out of participating in Mardi Gras on Saturday. But it’s early days.”

Luke Davies and Jesse Baird.

Announcing the discovery of the bodies, Webb extended her condolences to the LGBTQ community, noting Jesse and Luke were active and much-loved members.

In its statement on Monday night, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board said community “unease” about police marching so soon after the alleged murder by a serving officer could cause additional distress during a time of significant grief.

“This decision was not made lightly, especially considering that many NSW Police members who participate in the parade are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community and are navigating the impact of this tragedy alongside us,” they said.

“However, we believe their participation at this year’s event could intensify the current feelings of sorrow and distress.”

The decision was highly controversial within the LGBTQ community. Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich, who is gay, said he understood emotions were raw but still wanted the police to march and hoped the parties could find a way forward.

“It’s best that the police stand with us 365 days a year, and that includes during the Mardi Gras Parade,” Greenwich told the ABC. “We need to work together to make Sydney and NSW a safer place for the LGBT community. It’s essential that we do it hand-in-hand.”

Channel 10, where Baird had until recently worked, reported several of his friends said he would not be comfortable with his death being used to make a political point by excluding police, and he had been friends with several police officers.

Mardi Gras’ official Facebook page was also inundated with comments criticising the decision to bar the police. A spokesman for the organisation said the board was considering the outcome of the meeting on Tuesday evening and would make a statement later.

Premier Chris Minns said Webb retained his support, and she was doing “an exceptional job” in organising her police force to investigate serious crime. “That is the most important KPI for any commissioner of police.” Police Minister Yasmin Catley also expressed her confidence.

Minns also hoped Mardi Gras organisers and police would strike a deal about Mardi Gras, noting there were many LGBTQ officers who participated each year. “I think it’s important for the city.”

Webb reiterated that NSW Police was reviewing its procedures about the signing in and out of police handguns, informed by discussions with their Victorian counterparts, and agreed there must be more safeguards. “We don’t want this to happen again,” she said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was “very good” police now marched in the parade, and relations had come a long way since 1978 when protesters were arrested and bashed. But he also understood “the queer community in Sydney in particular … are grieving what is an enormous tragedy” at the present time.