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A second policeman has been sacked after photographs of dead people, including murder victims, were found on his mobile phones, while a homicide squad detective has been suspended over his role in the scandal.
The latest dismissal follows the departure of Detective Leading Senior Constable Murray Gentner last month, after the same disturbing images were found in his possession.
Murray Gentner was sacked for sharing images of corpses taken at crime scenes.Credit: Joe Armao/The Age
A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday that a detective sergeant from the Southern Metro Region was dismissed on August 22.
The spokeswoman said a detective leading senior constable from Crime Command had also been suspended without pay, while another detective leading senior constable from the same department was suspended with pay.
Victoria Police would not confirm if the families of the deceased had been contacted, but released a statement in response to questions from The Age.
“Victoria Police recognise the impact of crime on victims, including the impact on victims’ families, witnesses and in some cases, the broader community,” the statement reads.
“We aim to provide support and assist victims through the criminal justice system.”
None of the officers have been charged with any criminal offences.
The Age can reveal that Gentner, who had been based in the St Kilda crime investigation unit since 2007 until his dismissal, has appealed the decision to the Police Registration and Services Board.
A date for the appeal hearing is yet to be set.
In 2020, Gentner was one of three officers accused of leaking photos of former AFL player and coach Dani Laidley in custody following her arrest for stalking. The photos of Laidley, wearing a wig and make-up, were widely circulated before she had publicly come out as a transgender woman.
Gentner, Senior Constable David Hall and Senior Constable Shane Reid were all charged with disclosing police information without reasonable excuse, while Gentner and Reid also faced charges of misconduct in public office.
However, all three had their charges dropped after it was found in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that the prosecution failed to establish that the officers had a duty to not disclose the information about Laidley.
Gentner admitted he shared Laidley’s mugshot with other officers in a WhatsApp group called the “SD1 Gentleman’s Club” during an investigation by Professional Standards Command.
He retained his job but was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond in September last year and required to complete a “respecting dignity” course over the Laidley matter.
Laidley received a confidential financial settlement from Victoria Police in March 2022.
Gentner, who was awarded the Mick Miller Award in 2013 for his work as a detective, was suspended without pay in February following the discovery of the crime-scene photographs of corpses on his phone.
In March 2023, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton warned all officers that any breach of the force’s disciplinary code would not be tolerated.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton issued a warning to police officers.Credit: Paul Jeffers
Patton insisted that police would be dismissed if found to have breached confidentiality or used unauthorised information from police databases.
“There’s no loophole there now, so anyone who is misusing information will absolutely be held to account,” he said in an email.
At the time, Patton revealed 17 officers had been dismissed for misconduct over the past year, and a further 31 resigned while under investigation when they saw the “writing on the wall”.
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