Week of the long knives. What Neil Paterson’s farewell letter really tells us

Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson has become the third senior Victorian police officer in as many months to have their career terminated by the state government in an apparent purge of the top ranks.

Paterson was on Thursday afternoon told by Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent the government would not renew his contract.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson, pictured in 2019.Credit: AAP

He has taken immediate leave and will not return. His contract finishes in July.

Six days earlier, a senior public servant told chief commissioner Shane Patton his contract would not be renewed, despite Patton being been told weeks earlier he would be given a further five-year term.

Patton and Paterson have both strongly argued behind closed doors for greater powers, including a restructure of the bail laws. The government has now said it will consider changes – many that have been proposed by Patton and Paterson for years.

Paterson’s parting letter to members exposes the cracks that have emerged between command and the government.

Shane Patton, pictured last year, was ousted as chief commissioner last week.Credit: Chris Hopkins

“On many occasions the work undertaken by the executive command team is not in the public domain as it is confidential with government,” Paterson wrote.

“Our hard-working police officers have never arrested more people or helped more victims, a very sad reality. Policing is only part of the justice system, and an effective justice system requires strong legislation and appropriate accountability in the courts.

“Police own the piece in the middle, they enforce the legislation provided by governments and front offenders before the courts.”

The translation is that Paterson is taking a parting shot at the government for failing to provide police with the tools to do their job, and ignored their advice for new laws.

Victoria’s premier expert on counter-terrorism, deputy commissioner Ross Guenther, has also had his career ended by the government. He finished work in December and will not be returning.

The government turned on Guenther in February last year after he called in this masthead for a summit on crime. He was muzzled, told he would never be acting chief commissioner again and his career path was blocked.

Paterson was told the government had a “strong view” that he should go. Nugent, on his second day as acting top cop, was forced to deliver the news.

In an email to Victoria Police staff announcing his forced retirement, Paterson wrote: “Like chief commissioner Shane Patton, Victoria Police is an organisation that I too have committed my life to and one that I have the utmost pride in.

“I have been committed to serving the Victorian community for over thirty-seven years, by detecting and apprehending offenders, supporting victims and helping those in need of assistance. Thank you for your service, your friendship and everything you do to keep the Victorian community safe.

“I also thank my husband and children for their love and support, as they have only known me as a police officer. Sometimes policing means you miss important family occasions in service of the community and ensuring the job gets done.”

In other words, Patton and I dedicated our lives, sometimes at the expense of our families, to serving the force and the community. This is some thanks we are getting from the government.

With 80-plus years of experience leaving from force command in less than a week, and hints of further retirements and reshuffles to come, it remains to be seen what we’ll be left with when the government puts its long knives away.

The government appointed both Patton and Paterson and repeatedly ignored their advice. Now they are collateral damage in a desperate attempt at a re-brand.

Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.