In early September 2026, four separate writs landed in the Supreme Court of Victoria within the space of about a week. Different officers, different stations, different superiors named. But read together, they describe a strikingly similar experience: years of dedicated service, a period of escalating pressure at the hands of senior colleagues, and a psychiatric injury severe enough to end a career. Arnold Thomas & Becker is acting for all four officers. A note on what follows. Everything below reflects allegations contained in court documents that are yet to be tested. Nothing in this article should be read as a finding of fact, and none of the conduct described has been proven in court. Four cases, one pattern Strip away the individual details and a shape starts to emerge across all four matters: an officer under pressure, a chain of command that allegedly made things worse rather than better, and a mental health decline that went unaddressed until it became unmanageable. Each case is its own story. Together, they raise a harder question about whether the systems meant to protect officers are actually working. Kieran Bendigo Proactive Targeting Team After close to 24 years in the job, Kieran’s claim describes a slow breakdown while serving on Bendigo’s Proactive Targeting Team. His writ names a Detective Senior Sergeant and an Inspector as the senior officers responsible for his day-to-day supervision, and alleges a sustained pattern of shouting, manufactured performance issues, and being frozen out and blamed for problems that weren’t his. He says both officers either took part in this conduct or were aware of it and did nothing. Kieran has not worked since December 2023, and has been diagnosed with major depression, PTSD and anxiety. Elliott Alleged obstruction and interference from three senior officers Elliot’s claim describes something more personal: an alleged campaign that extended beyond the workplace and into his family life, including a claim that a senior sergeant contacted his ex-wife in an attempt to have prior allegations against him reinstated. His writ also alleges his private medical records were demanded, invasive personal questions were asked, and he was placed on duties his superiors knew were likely to harm him. He has not worked since December 2022. Rachell Alleged unsustainable workload and withdrawal of support Rachell’s claim centres on being handed an unworkable investigation without adequate support, and pushed to work hours she describes as crushing. She alleges she was pressured over a matter involving a relative, and that the senior officers named in her claim undermined her rather than backing her up when it mattered. Nathan Bellarine Police Station, Geelong Nathan’s case has an unusual shape. After being involved in subduing and arresting a member of the public who had thrown an object at his station and threatened him, he was suspended two weeks later while on leave, then arrested and interviewed over the same incident. In 2023, after being told the matter was closed, he was immediately suspended again, this time over an arrest he had made years earlier. He says the cumulative effect of these events caused major depressive disorder, PTSD, cognitive decline, and ongoing anxiety and depression. 4 separate Supreme Court writs filed against Victoria Police within roughly a week in September 2026, all alleging psychiatric injury linked to workplace bullying Not an isolated pattern These four matters don’t sit in isolation. A 2025 coronial investigation examining Victoria Police suicides over a 15-year period found that work-related stressors were present in the majority of cases it reviewed. Bullying was explicitly identified as a recurring factor in a substantial portion of those matters, alongside excessive workload and rostering pressure. Depression and PTSD diagnoses were common among the officers whose deaths were examined. Read against that backdrop, four writs filed in the same week look less like a coincidence and more like a symptom of something structural. What we’re saying Our senior associate acting for Kieran has said Victoria Police owed its officers the same duty to protect their psychological wellbeing that any employer owes its staff, and that this duty applies regardless of how demanding or high-pressure the role. More broadly, our view is straightforward: police officers and other Victoria Police employees are entitled to the same psychologically safe workplace as anyone else, and allegations of bullying within the organisation need to be investigated independently and transparently, not managed quietly from the inside. Victoria Police’s response Victoria Police has publicly stated that bullying, discrimination, harassment and victimisation will not be tolerated within the organisation. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, who previously led an independent review into workplace bullying while heading New Zealand Police, has pointed to the creation of a dedicated Chief Officer for Health, Safety and Wellbeing as part of the organisation’s response, and has said publicly that every employee has the right to feel safe and respected at work. Whether that commitment translates into meaningful change for officers already affected is, in effect, the question these four cases will help answer. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone If you’re a current or former Victoria Police officer who has experienced bullying, harassment, or a workplace that failed to protect your mental health, we’d encourage you to speak with someone about where you stand. Confidential, no obligation, no cost to find out. No win, no fee. No fear. Footer disclaimer: This article discusses claims made in writs filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria. These are allegations only, they have not been tested or determined by any court, and nothing in this article should be understood as a finding of fact or an assertion that any allegation is true. This article is general in nature and is not legal advice.