The head of Victoria Police's ethical standards body has admitted to making "crude and coarse" comments online about former colleagues.
The comments about former police commissioner Christine Nixon and others made by Professional Standards Command head Brett Guerin have been referred to the state's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
They include references of a graphic nature relating to Ms Nixon and former police union boss Paul Mullett after he unsuccessfully sued her in 2016.
"It's crude and coarse language and, you know, what I'm most ashamed about is my mother and my daughters have read it now," Mr Guerin told 3AW on Thursday.
"The language I used ... was completely inappropriate, embarrassing and I can understand people saying 'what the hell is this bloke doing?'."
Mr Guerin made the comments on a website in 2016, writing under the name 'Vernon Demerest', a character from the 1970 film Airport.
'Demerest' also wrote about former police commissioner Kel Glare on a Community Advocacy Alliance Facebook group.
On Thursday, Mr Guerin admitted to using the name Demerest.
"If I had gone in under my own name, it would have been associated with police," he said.
While he didn't believe he had breached police force ethical standards, he did admit to making a mistake.
"I dropped the ball," he said. "Is it a hanging offence? That's for others to judge."
Police Minister Lisa Neville said IBAC was taking the issue "extremely seriously".
"We want to ensure the highest possible standards in Victoria Police," she told reporters.
Victoria Police said it had not been aware of the posts.
"In accordance with his obligations under the Victoria Police Act, the chief commissioner has referred the matter to IBAC," it said in a statement.
Mr Guerin said he expected to speak with Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton later on Thursday.
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