Victoria Police have suspended the Senior Constable responsible for leaking the photo of Dean Laidley after his arrest.
The former North Melbourne coach is being held in police custody, charged with stalking and other offences following his arrest in St Kilda on Sunday night
The image emerged on Twitter of the 53-year old during his police interview wearing a blonde wig, dress and make up.
Laidley's lawyer Dee Giannopoulos expressed her outrage over the leaked photo.
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
— Dee Giannopoulos (@deeglaw) May 3, 2020
The cop will be charged on summons and could face up to two years in prison and/or $40,000 of fines. He has been suspended without pay and will face other disciplinary action from Victoria Police, which could include being stood down.
An angry Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton slammed the leak as "appalling".
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton very strong on leak of police photos of Dean Laidley. "It's appalling. It's unacceptable." Says @VictoriaPolice have interviewed a Snr Const, who will be charged and has been stood down.
— Laurel Irving (@laurelirving7) May 4, 2020
Victoria’s Police Minister Lisa Neville said the actions were “an idiot thing to do”.
Victoria’s leading civil liberties labelled the leak as a "deplorable breach of privacy."
“The images circulating of a high-profile arrest today are deplorable breach of privacy,” Liberty Victoria tweeted.
“The transphobic overtones only serve to make the breach even more egregious."
Laidley remains behind bars after not appealing for bail and will front court again on May 11.
