Herald Sun journalist Rita Panahi yesterday exposed a rumour that is widely circulating within senior Victoria Police circles.

“The crisis in trust (of VicPol ) will not be helped with rumours circulating among senior officers that Premier Andrews’ former chief of staff, Brett Curran, is being groomed to take over from Chief Commissioner Shane Patton”

This bombshell will send reverberations throughout the Community, Government and Police circles alike.

This rumour is unprecedented and that is without the truth or otherwise being established, as Patton has over two years left to run on his contract and grooming somebody now indicates an early exit by Patton is being mooted.

There are only a few options,

·        The Chief Commissioner has plans to not fulfil his contract for personal reasons,

·        He is being seriously and perhaps mortally undermined or,

·        The rumour is false without foundation.

Given that an exit by Patton may see many of the Vicpol failures (many unfairly blamed on him) airbrushed away with his departure, leads us to suspect the undermining is the option and it is being done for political expediency.

Patton may have failed to see criminal cases prosecuted,  however, if he is being undermined we do not support this process as it only further politicises the Force.