A photo of three cops walking through Melbourne has sparked debate over height requirements after one of them was noticeably shorter than his two colleagues.
The image, snapped by FF News Room, showed the trio walking outside the state library, with the middle one reaching the shoulders of the other two.
Some Aussies raised concerns about the police force, questioning if there was a height requirement.
'They can’t be for real, there must be a height and weight restriction when applying,' one said.
'I thought there will be a minimum height requirement for men and women when applying for the role,' a second said.
Victoria Police has 'no minimum or maximum height requirement' to be a cop, but there is a focus on physical fitness and medical and psychological suitability.
Some Aussies swooped to the defence of the police force, saying height should be irrelevant.
'Height doesn’t matter if you can do Jet Li or Bruce Lee style, anyone can be taller but doesn’t mean not fit for the job, same as David and Goliath,' one said.
This photo of three cops walking through Melbourne , with one noticeably shorter than the rest, has sparked debate over the height requirements of officers
'If someone meets the requirements of the job, it doesn’t matter how tall or short someone is,' a second said.
'Being tall has advantages, and being shorter actually can have advantages too.'
'At least he has the guts and integrity to do the job,' another said.
'Most people commenting need to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves "would I be capable of putting myself on the line every day to serve and protect".'
'How about we stop picking on people just out there doing their job based on their appearance,' a fourth said.
Others also pointed out height requirements were in place many years ago.
'I was told I couldn’t join Victoria Police because I’m five foot eight inches and you had to be six foot back in the late 80s,' one said.
'Back in my day, you had to be six foot tall and weigh over 90 kg to join the force,' a second said.
Alan Thorn, who is five foot two inches tall, said he was given a cruel nickname by his instructor that stuck
'My mum applied and was refused due to height and heck, she’s much taller than him,' a third said.
A Sydney police told A Current Affair in 2021 he was bullied for his short stature for 14 years.
Alan Thorn, who is five foot two inches tall, said he was given a cruel nickname by his instructor that stuck.
'He called me Frodo. I had no idea what Frodo meant until I asked one of the young blokes there and he informed me it was a hobbit out of Lord of the Rings,' he said.
'I don't believe a lot of people would have known my real name, they just knew me as Frodo.'
He was also called 'Papa Smurf' while his colleagues plastered a wall with images of dwarves and crude memes, nicknaming it the 'The Great Little Wall of Thorny'.
He claimed he suffered from depression, anxiety and PTSD and considered taking legal action.