TWO Sunshine police sergeants received counselling for producing stubby holders with racist comments in April last year.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said Victoria Police’s Professional Standards Command would review the original decision to provide counselling for the pair, following revelations 50 were produced which contained references to mudfish – a derogatory term for Africans.
Both sergeants, members of a social club at the Sunshine station, were told not to present the holders at any work-related function.
“Putting it bluntly, I’m extremely disappointed … extremely disappointed that they thought that it was in any way right to produce the stubby holder they have,” he said.
“They are leaders at a police station, and they have not lived up to the standards expected. It’s quite clear it was inappropriate.”
Acting Deputy Commissioner Crisp admitted he could see how the African community would lose trust and confidence in local police.
Meanwhile the attitudes of lower ranked police in Brimbank towards African and other migrant groups needs a “huge shift”, according to a local African leader.
Abseleom Nega said revelations stubby holders bearing racist comments had been distributed by Sunshine police officers was extremely disappointing and ran counter to steady progress made in recent months.
“We have been denigrated by racist slurs.”
He said racism would continue to fester unless those with poor attitudes further down the chain changed their ways.
“Victoria Police has shown leadership [on the topic of racism], but it hasn’t been cascading down,” he said.
“It needs input from those who are making these comments.They [Victoria Police] need to examine the way they are interacting with the public.”
Mr Nega said he was sad to see months of solid community engagement by police being undone.
“I could see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
“There has been some quite encouraging progress in the recent months, so to read about this is quite disappointing.”
He called on the Brimbank chairman and other community leaders to work with the police and the African community to put an end to racism.
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has vowed to act against those responsible, and senior officers have slammed them as “offensive”.
About 50 of the drink coolers are believed to have been distributed, as well as a birth date without a year, a reference to the many refugees from Sudan and other war-torn nations who don’t know their date of birth.
