A VICTORIAN police officer is expected to be charged over the leaking of photos of former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley inside a police station.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton confirmed the male senior constable, from the southern metropolitan region, was suspended with pay on Monday.

He is expected to be charged with unauthorised access to police information.

The maximum penalty for the criminal charge is two years in prison or $40,000 in fines.

Mr Patton described the dissemination of the photos as “appalling”.

“It’s a breach of our values, it’s unlawful and criminal conduct and that’s the way we are treating it,” he told reporters.

Laidley was arrested on Saturday night outside a home in St Kilda and charged with stalking and other offences.

On Sunday, photos of the 53-year-old’s mug shot, as well as a photo of him in a long blonde wig and wearing a dress were disseminated on social media.

The latter photo appears to be taken from inside the police station looking into the interview room where Laidley was being questioned.

The photos subsequently appeared on the front page of the Herald Sun and The West Australian newspapers on Monday.

Mr Patton said six police officers were sent the photo by the senior constable via WhatsApp and could also face charges if it’s found they disseminated it further.

The police officer would also be subject to internal disciplinary measures and the corruption watchdog had been notified, he said.

Lawyers acting for Laidley, as well as civil liberties groups, have criticised the police officer’s actions.

“Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical #grossbreachofprivacy,” Laidley’s lawyer Dee Giannopoulo tweeted.

Another of his lawyers, Bill Doogue, also tweeted his anger.

“Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in Police interview in Police Station by a Police Officer,” Mr Doogue said.

The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties described the release of the photos a “serious violation of Laidley’s human rights” with “transphobic overtones”.

“It appears that these images were released with the intention of publicly ‘outing’ Laidley,” the group said in a statement.

“Members of transgender and gender-non-conforming communities routinely report feeling distrustful towards police, and this incident will only further their concerns.”

LGBTIQ Legal, a branch of the community law service group St Kilda Legal Service, said they were concerned the incident would lead to further distrust of police officers.

“This incident requires an independent investigation as the first of many steps that are required for Victoria Police to do better for trans and gender non-conforming Victorians, many of whom have already experienced discrimination,” they said.

Laidley faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday and will remain in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail.

He played 151 AFL games from 1987-97 and was an inaugural player at West Coast before joining the Kangaroos from 1993.

He played 99 games at Arden St, including their 1996 premiership before he succeeded Denis Pagan as North Melbourne coach in 2003 and in 149 games led them to the finals three times, before resigning during the 2009 season.

He then had assistant coaching roles at three AFL clubs until 2015. He is currently Essendon District Football League club Maribyrnong Park’s senior coach.  

There are new reports the leaked photos of Dean Laidley could have been sent to over 100 police officers as an investigation into the scandal is widened.

Two senior Victorian constables have been suspended so far over the leaked pictures of the former AFL player and coach inside a Melbourne police station.

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A second officer was suspended on Tuesday and is likely to be charged with accessing police information without authorisation, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison or $40,000 in fines.

The first Victorian police officer accused of sharing the photos was suspended with pay on Monday and is expected to face the same charge.

Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton said on Monday that six police officers were sent the photos via WhatsApp and they could face charges if it’s found they disseminated them further.

However new reports claim the number of officers sent the photos is much higher.

“The sheer number of officers who were sent the images is a headache for force command as they try to work out how many should be reprimanded,” the Herald Sun is reporting.

“The Herald Sun understands more than one hundred officers were sent the photos.”

The Herald says officers were sent the photos in large WhatsApp groups and online footy forums.

Victoria Police have reportedly told anyone who was sent the the photos to delete them and explain how they saw them.

According to The Age, around 50 officers have already come forward to say they were sent the photos.

“Many of those 50 have come forward to assist the investigation and tick themselves off as part of the process, and were not sent the photos directly from the original source,” The Age reports.

Police chief slams officers’ ‘appalling’ act

Mr Patton said the dissemination of the pictures of Laidley in the station’s interview room was an ‘appalling” act.

The 53-year-old was photographed wearing a long blonde wig and a dress after his arrest outside a home in St Kilda on Saturday night.

Laidley is facing stalking and other charges, and remains in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights said the behaviour of the officers who distributed the photos was alarming and it was concerning certain media outlets decided to publish the images.

The group said this was an opportunity for Victoria Police to further support the trans and gender diverse community.

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“The act of a police officer secretly taking a photograph of an accused person while the person is in custody is extremely dangerous,” ALHR President Kerry Weste said in a statement.

“It damages trust and confidence in the Victoria Police and it damages the community’s faith in the rule of law.”

Laidley played 151 AFL games from 1987-97 and was an inaugural player at West Coast before joining North in 1993.

He played 99 games at Arden St, including their 1996 premiership before he succeeded Denis Pagan as North Melbourne coach in 2003.

In 149 games, he led them to the finals three times before resigning during the 2009 season.

He then had assistant coaching roles at three AFL clubs until 2015 and is currently coach of Melbourne suburban club Maribyrnong Park.

with AAP

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A Victorian police officer is expected to be charged over leaking photos of former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley inside a police station. The photos of Laidley wearing a long blonde wig and a dress were taken when the North Melbourne premiership player was being questioned after his arrest outside a home in St Kilda on Saturday night. He is facing stalking and other charges. Photos of the 53-year-old in the station’s interview room as well as his mug shot were disseminated on social media on Sunday and appeared on the front pages of the Herald Sun and the West Australian newspapers on Monday. Laidley faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday and will remain in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail. Deputy police commissioner Shane Patton says the dissemination of the photos is appalling. Mr Patton said the senior constable allegedly responsible was suspended with pay on Monday. He is expected to be charged with accessing police information without authorisation. The maximum penalty for the criminal charge is two years in prison or $40,000 in fines. “It’s a breach of our values, it’s unlawful and criminal conduct and that’s the way we are treating it,” Mr Patton said. Mr Patton said six police officers were sent the photos by the senior constable via WhatsApp and they could also face charges if it’s found they disseminated them further. The police officer would also be subject to internal disciplinary measures and the corruption watchdog has been notified, he said. Laidley’s lawyers, as well as civil liberties groups, have criticised the officer’s actions. “Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical (hash)grossbreachofprivacy,” lawyer Dee Giannopoulos tweeted. Another of his lawyers, Bill Doogue, also tweeted his anger. “Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in Police interview in Police Station by a Police Officer,” Mr Doogue said. The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties described the release of the photos as a “serious violation of Laidley’s human rights” with “transphobic overtones”. “It appears that these images were released with the intention of publicly ‘outing’ Laidley,” the group said in a statement. LGBTIQ Legal, a branch of the community group St Kilda Legal Service, said they were concerned the incident would lead to further distrust of police officers. “This incident requires an independent investigation as the first of many steps that are required for Victoria Police to do better for trans and gender non-conforming Victorians, many of whom have already experienced discrimination,” they said. Laidley played 151 AFL games from 1987-97 and was an inaugural player at West Coast before joining North in 1993. He played 99 games at Arden St, including their 1996 premiership before he succeeded Denis Pagan as North Melbourne coach in 2003. In 149 games, he led them to the finals three times before resigning during the 2009 season. He then had assistant coaching roles at three AFL clubs until 2015 and is currently coach of Melbourne suburban club Maribyrnong Park. Australian Associated Press

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/9350d812-d9aa-460c-b4c4-020bfa6301e8.jpg/r0_74_800_526_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

A Victorian police officer is expected to be charged over leaking photos of former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley inside a police station.

The photos of Laidley wearing a long blonde wig and a dress were taken when the North Melbourne premiership player was being questioned after his arrest outside a home in St Kilda on Saturday night.

He is facing stalking and other charges.

Photos of the 53-year-old in the station’s interview room as well as his mug shot were disseminated on social media on Sunday and appeared on the front pages of the Herald Sun and the West Australian newspapers on Monday.

Laidley faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday and will remain in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail.

Deputy police commissioner Shane Patton says the dissemination of the photos is appalling.

Mr Patton said the senior constable allegedly responsible was suspended with pay on Monday.

He is expected to be charged with accessing police information without authorisation.

The maximum penalty for the criminal charge is two years in prison or $40,000 in fines.

“It’s a breach of our values, it’s unlawful and criminal conduct and that’s the way we are treating it,” Mr Patton said.

Mr Patton said six police officers were sent the photos by the senior constable via WhatsApp and they could also face charges if it’s found they disseminated them further.

The police officer would also be subject to internal disciplinary measures and the corruption watchdog has been notified, he said.

Laidley’s lawyers, as well as civil liberties groups, have criticised the officer’s actions.

“Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical (hash)grossbreachofprivacy,” lawyer Dee Giannopoulos tweeted.

Another of his lawyers, Bill Doogue, also tweeted his anger.

“Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in Police interview in Police Station by a Police Officer,” Mr Doogue said.

The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties described the release of the photos as a “serious violation of Laidley’s human rights” with “transphobic overtones”.

“It appears that these images were released with the intention of publicly ‘outing’ Laidley,” the group said in a statement.

LGBTIQ Legal, a branch of the community group St Kilda Legal Service, said they were concerned the incident would lead to further distrust of police officers.

“This incident requires an independent investigation as the first of many steps that are required for Victoria Police to do better for trans and gender non-conforming Victorians, many of whom have already experienced discrimination,” they said.

Laidley played 151 AFL games from 1987-97 and was an inaugural player at West Coast before joining North in 1993.

He played 99 games at Arden St, including their 1996 premiership before he succeeded Denis Pagan as North Melbourne coach in 2003. In 149 games, he led them to the finals three times before resigning during the 2009 season.

He then had assistant coaching roles at three AFL clubs until 2015 and is currently coach of Melbourne suburban club Maribyrnong Park.

Australian Associated Press

Eric Leak, a former N.C. State football player, agreed to a plea arrangement on Thursday in a Medicaid fraud case at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, according to court documents.

Leak is charged with paying kickbacks and money laundering while he served as executive director of Nature’s Reflections, a Durham mental health services provider from 2011-14. He faces a maximum of five years in prison for the kickback scheme and 10 years on the money laundering charge, plus fines.

N.C. State asked in November 2011 that Leak dissociate himself from the university for 10 years after the NCAA said Leak had provided improper benefits to basketball players C.J. Leslie and Tracy Smith.

Leslie, who received $410 of impermissible benefits, was suspended for three games in the 2011-12 basketball season.

Leak later told The News & Observer that he had contacted former football standout David Amerson in June 2012. The university then requested that Leak not contact any other N.C. State athlete while also asking the Secretary of State’s office to determine whether Leak was violating the state’s athlete agent act.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.