Revelation about AU Victoria Police after a female police officer's suicide

On the morning of November 22, 2019, Shona O'Connor, a sergeant with Victoria Police, reported for duty in her uniform. As usual, she collected her service firearm, got into a police vehicle, and drove to the town of Malmsbury, located about an hour away.

O'Connor entered a public restroom in the botanical gardens there, locked the door, and called the 000 emergency number, informing them that she was a police officer and that she was going to commit suicide. Afterwards, she sent a text message to her family members with a kiss emoji, saying "I love you," and then took her own life with her service firearm.

Shona, a 43-year-old mother of three, had dreamed of becoming a police officer since preschool and had served in the police force for over two decades. As revealed by the ABC 'Four Corners' investigative program broadcast on November 9, 2026, her tragic death was not merely a personal decision, but the result of a problematic culture deeply rooted within the police department's work environment. Detective Jacob Laidlaw of the Professional Standards Command, who investigated this incident, described it as a "suicide with a direct message" to Victoria Police, stating "I am doing this because of you."

Shona faced this tragedy due to the toxic work environment at the Melton Police Station where she served. As described by former officers, it was like a "boys' club" where sexual harassment and excessive alcohol consumption were rampant. New female officers were referred to as "P-Vees." There were even reports of a competition among male officers to see who would be the first to sleep with them. Victoria Police had previously conducted a survey on this situation at Melton, which also acknowledged the existence of inappropriate behavior.

In 2017, during a training session and another official event, her Senior Sergeant, Simon Payne, sexually harassed her by making obscene comments about the size of her breasts. Although Shona complained about this to Inspector Catherine Radkins, no action was taken, according to her family and then-boyfriend. Meanwhile, rumors also spread that Payne and Radkins had a secret relationship, which Radkins denied.

Due to continuous pressure and harassment, Shona later transferred to the nearby Caroline Springs Police Station. However, there too she had to face excessive shifts and long working hours. She harbored a deep fear of being sent back to Melton Police Station. She had told her father, "Dad, if I go back to Melton, they'll cut me into mincemeat." Three days before her death, after being reprimanded by another manager, she called her father under severe mental distress. It is also reported that she had an argument with her boyfriend on the night before her death.

After her death, investigations conducted by Detective Laidlaw uncovered numerous other serious corruptions at Melton Police Station. These included Senior Sergeant Payne engaging in dog races during duty hours, improper use of police-held property, and cutting and resealing evidence bags. Although the Professional Standards Command reported that these irregularities posed a risk of criminal charges and reputational damage, investigators accuse authorities of attempting to suppress these investigations. Payne was later arrested, but the charge of misconduct in public office was withdrawn, and he received an alternative penalty related to taking police-issued equipment home. Meanwhile, Inspector Radkins, who had a close relationship with Payne, admitted to behaving like his lover and retired from service before disciplinary proceedings were concluded.

The inquest process regarding Shona's death has also been highly controversial. Crucial evidence, such as statements about the culture at Melton Police, complaints about the harassment Shona faced, and statements from her sisters, were concealed from the report presented to the coroner. Consequently, Coroner Catherine Lawrence concluded that there was no evidence of workplace harassment.

This is not an isolated incident within Victoria Police. An analysis by a coroner has revealed that between January 2009 and August 2024, 35 Victoria Police employees committed suicide, and workplace pressures contributed to 70% of these cases. Workplace harassment, excessive workload, and shift-related issues were the primary causes, and in eight of these incidents, they used a firearm.

Shona's father, Michael O'Connor, and sister, Reshelle, have appealed to Chief Commissioner Mike Bush to reopen her inquest. The Commissioner has now acknowledged that the culture at Melton Police was "unacceptable" and that all relevant evidence should have been presented to the coroner. However, Detective Laidlaw, who advocated for justice, was also subjected to pressure and obstruction, leading him to retire from service at the age of 36 due to illness, and he is currently pursuing legal action for compensation.

The tragic message left by Shona O'Connor, who paid with her life against the work culture of Victoria Police, still echoes today, awaiting justice.