Mystery over failure to charge alleged Nazi salute cop
The reasons for not charging a police sergeant accused of performing the Nazi salute twice remain a mystery
The veteran police officer allegedly made the gesture over successive days in October 2024, one year after laws banning the salute came into force.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny blasted the alleged behaviour but declined to reveal why the case had been dropped, saying it was up to others to explain.
“We expect the highest standards from our Victoria Police, this behaviour is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Ms Kilkenny told reporters in Ivanhoe on Thursday.
“The premier has been very clear on this and has taken a very firm position.”
It was revealed on Wednesday Victoria Police’s criminal case had ended after it received advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions there was “no reasonable prospect of conviction”.
An internal discipline investigation has been launched and the sergeant remains suspended.
The state prosecutor’s office did not explain the basis for its advice.
“The matter was reviewed carefully, thoroughly and objectively and it was determined that there are not reasonable prospects of conviction in this case,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
The 65-year-old woman allegedly made the banned gesture at the Victoria Police Academy at Glen Waverley, in Melbourne’s southeast, over two days in October.
She was accused of approaching two employees and performing the salute, as well as uttering the words “heil Hitler”.
The following day, in a post-family violence scenario debriefing with a recruit squad and another instructor, the sergeant again allegedly performed the salute and said “heil Hitler”.
She was interviewed and released without charge in the days following the alleged incidents, with the force revealing she was expected to be charged on summons.
At the time, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton labelled her alleged actions “appalling” and “abhorrent”.
Naomi Levin, the CEO of The Jewish Community Council of Victoria, told J-Wire: “We have had ongoing discussions with police on this matter, which allegedly took place at the police training academy. We are reassured that measures have been taken in response and police, from the Chief Commissioner down, have treated this incident with the seriousness it deserves. The JCCV and CSG continues to work closely with Victoria Police to provide antisemitism training and Jewish cultural training to new recruits and current serving police.”
The Police Association of Victoria declined to comment on the latest development.
State and federal governments have banned Nazi symbols and gestures following concerns of rising anti-Semitism.
Far-right extremist and self-proclaimed “Hitler soldier” Jacob Hersant became the first Victorian found guilty of intentionally performing the Nazi salute in public in October.
He was sentenced to one month in prison but freed on bail pending an appeal, set for a three-day hearing from June 10.
In Victoria, performing the Nazi salute in public can carry a sentence of up to 12 months in prison and or a $23,000 fine if proven.
By: Callum Godde and Rachael Ward/AAP J-Wire contributed to this story
Not comprehensible at all. Doesn’t make sense, in fact. This person is still suspended and yet it’s not thought possible to charge her for obvious offences committed. She’s not only given the Hitler salute, she’s also said ‘Heil Hitler’ while doing so. How can this be?