"There's a line, as a private citizen, as a sworn police officer, and it would appear on this occasion that some of those lines have been crossed," acting Deputy Commissioner Geoffrey McKechnie said. NSW police officers appeared to have harassed Jenny Leong on social media following the Greens MP's campaign to repeal the state's sniffer dog policy. Credit:Louise Kennerley Ms Leong referred the posts to the Police Integrity Commission. Deputy Commissioner McKechnie said either the PIC or the force's own professional standards command would investigate. The PIC could either decide to investigate the matter itself, or refer it to the police standards command. "Some of the comments I have seen on there are totally inappropriate and will have to be dealt with," he said.

Deputy Commissioner McKechnie would not confirm whether police officers had made the abusive posts, nor how many officers might be involved. But he said he hoped an investigation would be "effective and efficient". Ms Leong on Sunday said the abuse was disturbing on "so many levels". "People know that there is a very dark side to the internet, and we should have a reasonable expectation that the NSW Police Force is there to catch cyber bullies, and instead what we are seeing is that some police officers are engaged in that vitriol and bile that is the worst part of the internet," Ms Leong said. She also said that such abuse could undermine democratic processes. "We are elected to make the laws for the state, and that includes changing and making legislation relating to the police," Ms Leong said.

"We need to be comfortable that we can raise concerns about current programs without feeling like there are threats of harassment and intimidation when that does occur," she said. Fairfax Media reported on Sunday that police from Sydney City Local Area Command, Kings Cross, Bankstown, Cabramatta and within senior management had been implicated in the attacks on Ms Leong. In one post, a detective posted an image of Ms Leong and added the words: "One condom could have prevented this from happening". That post was liked by multiple officers. Deputy Commissioner McKechnie would not say whether officers found to be breaching the force's social media policy would be sacked. "The NSW Police force has a full range of outcomes available to us following a complaint investigation," he said.

"We have processes we have to go through ... and ultimately they're matters the commissioner decides." A spokesman for Police Minister Troy Grant said: "‎Mr Grant has already condemned the Facebook comments directed to the member for Newtown. Police are now investigating the matter as appropriate."





