National

School zone dispute prompts top cop corruption referral

By AAP Newswire

Nov 1, 2024

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson — Neil Paterson has been referred to IBAC over an incident outside a Melbourne school. -AAP Image

A senior police officer has been referred to Victoria's anti-corruption watchdog over an alleged road rage incident outside a school.

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Victoria Police on Friday confirmed it had referred Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson to the state's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission over an incident at a Melbourne school in July.

Mr Paterson, who is understood not to have been in uniform or driving a marked police vehicle at the time, and a parent at the school reportedly engaged in a heated argument as traffic banked up around the school.

IBAC will investigate whether he misused his position and authority during the verbal altercation and subsequent correspondence with a school parent.

The parent was charged with hindering police and fined following the incident, according to Nine newspapers.

Nine also said Mr Paterson had strongly defended his conduct, saying it was the parent who had become agitated during the incident and that he had acted professionally throughout.

Police confirmed they had received a complaint regarding the July interaction.

"As per the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Act 2011, Victoria Police has referred the matter to IBAC," the force said in a statement.

IBAC is the state's anti-corruption body responsible for exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct.

Victoria Police is required by law to refer complaints against officers with a rank of assistant commissioner and above to IBAC.