Victoria stands down police staff over leaked photos of AFL star Dean Laidley dressed as a woman 

Thirteen Victoria Police officers have been suspended or transferred over leaked photos showing former AFL star Dean Laidley dressed as a woman.  

Laidley, 53, was arrested outside a home in south Melbourne on May 2 and was pictured wearing a dress in an interview room at St Kilda Police Station. 

A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia seven officers were ‘currently suspended from duty’ and ‘six members have been transferred to other duties.’ 

The suspended officers include two senior constables and two detective senior constables from Melbourne’s southern region and a constable from northwest metro, the Herald Sun reported. 

Two officers, including Senior Constable Shane Reid, from the southern metro region were also stood down after allegedly leaking the images of Laidley.  

A constable from the north west metro region, two constables and a senior constable from the western region have been transferred to other duties. 

One senior constable and a detective senior constable from the southern metro region have also been transferred. 

Laidley, a former West Coast and North Melbourne player, was charged with a series of offences including stalking and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

The leaked pictures showed off Laidley’s mugshot and the former Kangaroos coach wearing a blonde wig, makeup and a dress as he was questioned by officers. 

Victoria’s corruption watchdog, the independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, has launched an investigation into the leaking of the photos.      

Police Commissioner Shane Patton warned the leak was ‘unacceptable’. 

A court sketch of former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley during a bail hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court in May 

Dean Laidley made a Maccas run after his release from jail on May 11 

‘I am appalled an employee of Victoria Police has taken these photographs.

‘It is appalling conduct and there is no place for it in our ­organisation,’ he said.  

Around 100 police employees have reportedly come forward about receiving the photos and the officers in question could face dismissal and criminal charges.

Laidley has also been charged with a persistent breach of a family violence order, using a carriage service to menace and four other intervention order breaches.    

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard that Laidley tried to contact his estranged girlfriend more than 100 times in calls and texts between April 4 and May 2.     

Laidley spent over a month in a Geelong rehabilitation clinic after his arrest and was then moved to a transitional housing facility. 

The troubled footy great is due back in court on December 14. 

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DEAN LAIDLEY

Laidley grew up in Balga in Perth’s north and played senior football for the West Perth Football Club.

He made his debut for the West Coast Eagles in 1987, where he played 52 games before being traded to the North Melbourne ahead of the 1993 season.  

He won a premiership with the Kangaroos in 1996 and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2019. 

His willingness to commit to contested balls earned him the nickname of ‘The Junkyard Dog’. 

Laidley pictured when he signed as the coach of the North Melbourne Kangaroos in 2002 – signing a three-year deal with his former club

His coaching career includes seven seasons with the Kangaroos between 2003 and 2009.

Laidley also spent time with Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton.  

He and his family were attacked by bouncers at the Bounty night club in Bali after his daughter’s wedding in 2011.

His son received a broken jaw while Laidley required stitches after being hit in the head with a bottle. 

Laidley began coaching Maribyrnong Park in the Essendon Districts Football League in 2019.