Former senior Victoria Police officer Brett Guerin a ‘racist, homophobic troll’

Brett Guerin used information gleaned from his work to ‘troll’ others while writing under a pseudonym on social media, IBAC has found.

Former Assistant Commissioner of Professional Standards Command at Victoria Police Brett Guerin. Picture: Tony Gough

A senior Victoria Police officer engaged in police misconduct when using a pseudonym on social media to make homophobic and racist comments, the state anti-corruption watchdog has found.

Brett Guerin – former Assistant Commissioner of Professional Standards Command – also used information gleaned from his work with Victoria Police when using the online persona Vernon Demerest to “troll” and “elicit a reaction”.

Independent Broadbased anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Robert Redlich QC said Mr Guerin trolled on and off the job but his misconduct did not constitute criminal charges, despite his conduct being “offensive and inappropriate”.

“IBAC did not find any evidence that his decision-making as Assistant Commissioner PSC was compromised by any underlying beliefs or views,” said Mr Redlich said in the report.

“However, IBAC found he used racist, homophobic and other offensive language to elicit a reaction to the comments he made while using online pseudonyms.”

Mr Guerin, responsible for overseeing the behaviour of other police officers, resigned from Victoria Police in February 2018.

IBAC on Tuesday found the then senior officer’s role in professional standard command was an aggravating feature of his misconduct, with Commissioner Redlich saying Operation Turon was an example of misconduct could do to someone’s career.

“Mr Guerin’s career with Victoria Police ended prematurely and compromised both his and the organisation’s reputation,” he said.

“It also had a negative impact on the work he and Victoria Police had done to strengthen the community’s trust and confidence in Victoria Police.”

Victoria Police first notified IBAC that a complaint had been made against Mr Guerin over the Vernon Demerest account in May 2017 before notifying the watchdog of further complaints against the top cop for using the same pseudonym in February 2018.

Between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2021, IBAC received about 120 allegations relating to Victoria Police personnels’ use of social media, including the leaking of former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley’s mugshot.

“Although Victoria Police has strengthened policies, systems and practices in response to Operation Turon, unauthorised information disclosure, including through social media, remains a serious and enduring misconduct risk for Victoria Police,” said Commissioner Redlich.

Operation Turon triggered an overhaul of Victoria Police’s social media policy to ensure officers were aware of the consequences of social media misuse. IBAC said Victoria Police was considering psychometric testing for the recruitment and promotion of senior leaders.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “Victoria Police acknowledges the findings and will consider the recommendations. Former Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin resigned from Victoria Police in February, 2018.”