Racism Scandal Rocks Lausanne Police Force

Investigation uncovers systematic discrimination and racist messages among Lausanne police officers, raising questions about institutional racism in Swiss law enforcement.

Key Takeaways

Investigators discovered private chat groups containing racist, sexist, and homophobic messages involving members of the Lausanne police force.
The investigation was triggered by a photo of a police officer giving a 'thumbs up' in front of graffiti commemorating Mike Ben Peter.
The content of the chats included glorification of Nazism and the Ku Klux Klan, as well as ridicule of people with disabilities.
Four police officers have been immediately suspended following the revelations.

By The Numbers

police officers involved

10%

of the entire Lausanne police corps

2005

year abuses were first noted

They Said

"Everyone knew or suspected it."
— Frédéric Maillard

"These messages are contrary to all our values."
— Olivier Botteron

A Staggering Breach of Public Trust

Unmasking a Toxic Subculture

Shattering the Blue Wall of Silence

Commanders Scramble as Heads Roll

A National Reckoning for Swiss Law Enforcement

Sources & References

Racist chats among Lausanne police – an isolated case in Switzerland?

SWI swissinfo.ch