Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson investigated by IBAC after alleged road rage incident

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson has been referred to the state’s anti-corruption commission after an alleged road rage incident outside the prestigious Haileybury College.

Victoria Police deputy commissioner Neil Paterson. Picture: Ian Currie

One of Victoria’s top police officers has been referred to the state’s anti-corruption commission after an alleged road rage incident at an elite private school in Melbourne.

Deputy commissioner Neil Paterson allegedly got in a verbal altercation with a parent during school pick-up time outside of Haileybury’s city campus.

The parent claims Mr Paterson was out of uniform and driving an unmarked car and behaved in a threatening and intimidating manner.

Following the incident, it is understood Mr Paterson issued the parent with an infringement notice for hindering police and attached a letter to the fine, warning that if the parent did not agree to plead guilty he would be charged with further offences.

Haileybury’s city campus in Melbourne.

The incident is believed to have begun on Jeffcott St, opposite Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens, in July this year.

It is understood Mr Paterson does not have children at the school, but the campus is located 250 metres from the Victoria Police Centre.

Mr Paterson has denied his behaviour was intimidatory and said he was dealing with an erratic and aggressive driver who refused to follow lawful directions, according to a media report.

Victoria Police referred the matter to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) after receiving a formal complaint about Mr Paterson’s conduct.

Police confirmed to the Herald Sun it had received a complaint following the interaction.

“As per the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Act 2011, Victoria has referred the matter to IBAC,” a spokesperson said.

It’s understood Mr Paterson issued the parent with an infringement notice for hindering police. Picture: Ian Currie

IBAC is responsible for preventing and exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct in Victoria.

By law, Victoria Police is required to refer complaints against officers with the rank of assistant commissioner and above to IBAC.

Haileybury’s principal Derek Scott told the Herald Sun the school trusts the “integrity and rigour” of the IBAC process.

“Therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time,” he said.

“Haileybury stresses that the safety and security of our students, staff, and families within our school community is of paramount importance.”

The prestigious school has nearly 5000 students across four campuses in Victoria.

It opened its city school on King St in West Melbourne in 2016.

In 2022, Mr Paterson publicly apologised to a Red Cross blood worker following an incident where he reprimanded her over the organisation’s discriminatory donor policies against sexually active gay men.

Mr Paterson is a vastly experienced officer with more than 35 years experience and was appointed a deputy commissioner in 2020.

He was awarded the Australia Police Medal in 2017.

Originally published as Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson investigated by IBAC after alleged road rage incident