Ex-Sergeant Sues Victoria Police Over Dog Training Injuries

A former Victoria Police Dog Squad sergeant, Hayden Bodycomb, is suing the state of Victoria, alleging that his work as a decoy for police dog training resulted in permanent injury and disability. Bodycomb, 50, filed a writ and statement of claim in the Supreme Court of Victoria on October 9, asserting that the force failed to protect him from serious harm.

The lawsuit comes weeks after reports of Victoria Police facing numerous civil complaints, including allegations of bullying by senior officers. Bodycomb's claim centers on his role, which he states was a requirement of his employment, involving being attacked by police dogs as a stand-in for fleeing or violent offenders.

According to the statement of claim, Bodycomb was subjected to training that included repeated dog attacks, often resulting in him being forcefully knocked to the ground. This training involved him wearing a bite suit for some sessions, while in others, he was not wearing protective gear, and the dogs were muzzled but still trained to replicate real attacks. The decoy work also involved repetitive lifting, twisting, and manual handling, along with forceful strikes to his neck and lower back.

Bodycomb alleges that the physical and psychological toll has been severe, leading to protruding discs in his lower back and neck, chronic pain, impaired mobility, surgical scarring, and neurological disturbances. He also claims to suffer from chronic anxiety, depression, irritability, disturbed sleep, and an adjustment disorder.

The lawsuit names the Chief Commissioner, Inspector James Duggan, and Senior Sergeant Paul Morgan as individuals responsible for inadequate risk assessments, supervision, instruction, and job rotation. It further alleges a lack of adequate health monitoring for him and that his complaints were ignored. The claim also suggests that the training facilities were insufficient for conditioning dogs to attack people and that disciplinary complaints were fabricated against him.

Bodycomb's legal team, Maurice Blackburn, declined to comment. The former sergeant was earning $142,772 annually before tax when he last worked. His lawyers assert he is incapacitated for all employment and will remain so permanently. Although his medical costs have been covered by WorkCover, he possesses a serious injury certificate, permitting him to sue for damages related to pain and suffering and loss of earning capacity. He is seeking unspecified damages, and the case is set to be decided by a judge.

In May, Bodycomb was found guilty of dragging a colleague and resisting arrest. Following a police stop in October 2023, he refused to cooperate and drove away while a detective senior sergeant attempted to switch off his vehicle's ignition by reaching inside. Bodycomb, who had previously resigned from Victoria Police, had received two commendations for bravery and was promoted to sergeant in 2016. He was convicted and fined $25,000 in July.