NSW Police officers caught trolling Greens MP with racist, sexist posts
A number of NSW Police officers have been caught trolling a Greens MP in an ongoing online campaign of racist and sexist comments on social media, Fairfax reports.
Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong has made a formal complaint to the NSW Police Integrity Commission after officers working around Sydney allegedly made several harassing Facebook posts, some attacking her ethnic background and one calling her a "swamp monkey".
Ms Leong has been leading the Greens' charge to have NSW controversial drug sniffing laws repealed.
In one post a police officer modified Ms Leong's profile picture and added the comment: "One condom could have prevented this from happening".
Four other officers liked the picture, including Detective Inspector Denby-Lea Eardley who holds a senior position in human resources, Fairfax reports.
The MP's Facebook page has been peppered by a number of derogatory posts over recent weeks with several officers working around Sydney liking, commenting and sharing pictures of Ms Leong.
"Ha! Top shelf!" one police officer wrote on one of the pictures. "Now people are posting screen shots of it back on her page!" another comment read.
"She is still copping a smashing – love it!" a Cabramatta-based officer wrote, adding later: "I haven't been banned yet and she is still getting it both barrels."
Ms Leong posted on Facebook Sunday the "harassment is also a serious threat to the health of our democracy".
"This is beyond disgusting and completely unacceptable. We have referred this matter to the Police Integrity Commission," she wrote.
"Racism and sexism in our society is never acceptable, and while everyone knows there is a dark side to the internet, if these actions have been undertaken by members of the NSW Police serious repercussions must occur."
A NSW Police spokesman said the matter was being investigated but "it is clear they could contravene strict social media use policy".
"Police officers are expected to behave at all times in a manner which upholds the integrity of their office and appropriate action will be taken against any found acting to the contrary," the added.
Members of the NSW Police Force must adhere to strict social media policy, which stipulates they should not "post any material that may bring the NSW Police Force into disrepute, or otherwise embarrass the agency".
The policy is even more specific in reference to government policy and politicians, stating officers must not "make comments so harsh or extreme in its criticism of the government, a member of parliament, a political party, or their policies, that it raises questions about the employee's capacity to work professionally, efficiently or impartially".
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant said: "If these allegations are proven true against any police employee, sworn or unsworn, they will and should be held to full account."
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