Catholic policeman sacked for comments on LGBTQ community

A Catholic police officer who spent 36 years with the force has been sacked for “disgraceful or improper conduct” after posting a series of online comments that allegedly disparaged the LGBTQ community.

Sergeant Bruno Staffieri was found guilty of the misconduct charges by Victoria Police’s internal disciplinary panel. He was notified of his dismissal on Thursday morning.

A gay pride march in St Kilda.Credit:Jerry Galea

The 62-year-old released a statement to The Age, which said he would consider appealing the decision, but would never resile from his faith.

“I’m obviously disappointed that I was dismissed after years of impeccable service, but I stand by my Christian beliefs,” the statement said.

Staffieri was supported by the Australian Christian Lobby during the disciplinary hearing, which has become a test case for freedom of speech and the force’s recently revised social media policy, particularly for officers expressing religious or political opinions online.

He was investigated over 10 comments made on social media and the force’s internal communication platform, known as Yammer, some of which were allegedly critical of Victoria Police’s campaign to promote workplace equality for LGBTQ members.

Staffieri, who was most recently based with the transit safety division, also found himself in hot water over his public criticism of the Andrews government’s decision to cancel Australia Day and Anzac Day celebrations in 2021, but allow the Gay Pride March in St Kilda to proceed.

“So the next time Australians are sent out to fight a war, maybe we can send out the 8000 that marched today … and try to stop the enemy by waving feathers and brightly coloured boas at them,” he posted on May 17, 2021.

The veteran officer had also infuriated Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson, the state’s second-highest ranking officer, who posted on Yammer in June 2021 that Victoria Police was proud to have been recognised as a silver employer at the 2021 Australian LGBTQ+ inclusion awards.

Staffieri responded on June 23 by posting: “Yes I agree. Great achievement. But if the public knew how much time, effort and taxpayer dollars went into this, they would also be demanding why we didn’t get a gold.”

Paterson defended the campaign and denied it had received significant public funding.

Staffieri responded: “Sir, I totally value and respect your opinion and your rank, I simply ask that you value and respect mine.”

Paterson replied: “I don’t respect or value your views as they are offensive and there is no place for those views in Victoria Police … Either limit your comments on Yammer to comments that are respectful of everyone or consider your employment options.”

Staffieri was also investigated over a Facebook post in March last year regarding an ABC report on a teacher who founded a gay pride group for students at a Western Sydney school.

“What a disgrace. Bad enough having gay, non-binary teachers, but to have them push their filth on students is a disgraceful crime. Why can’t we sack these teachers?” he posted.

During a disciplinary hearing on February 2, Staffieri insisted he had never discriminated against the LGBTQ community.

“I accept that the remaining Yammer comments and some LinkedIn comments were sarcastic
and may have come across as dismissive or disrespectful (although that was not the intent),” Staffieri said in a submission presented to the disciplinary hearing.

He accused senior figures in force command, including Paterson, of contributing to a “parochial, narrow-minded, intolerant culture within Victoria Police regarding perspectives on LGBTIQ
morality and in doing so, have placed their own interests above the community good.”

“I come from a very strong religious background and I take personal sufferance when people mock or deny my god and his teachings,” he said in the submission.

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