A Victoria Police officer arrested last week as part of an operation focused on outlaw motorcycle gangs faces charges of releasing police information, perverting the course of justice and possessing drugs and an unregistered gun.


Senior Constable David Branov, 41, of the North West Metro region, was arrested on Friday night as part of Taskforce Echo, which targets the Comanchero bikie gang and investigates possible links to police. He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.


Investigators allege Senior Constable Branov, of Epping, perverted the course of justice by thwarting a probe into suspected drug trafficking by another man and released information from a police database that could have put other people in danger.


The court heard police had intercepted about 1000 suspicious telephone calls involving the accused over a five-month period.


Senior Constable Branov is also charged with possessing a gun that was not registered, a silencer, methamphetamine and material containing instructions on manufacturing drugs.


His appearance at court coincided with that of another police officer charged as part of Taskforce Echo.


Constable Dean Gibbs, also of the North West Metro region, faces 10 charges including trafficking cocaine and transmitting a photograph of a police shooting victim.


Constable Gibbs, 26, appeared briefly in court before his case was adjourned until May 20.


He is charged with trafficking cocaine in Malvern in November and December last year, possessing ecstasy and possessing Viagra without a valid prescription.


It is also alleged he released a photograph of a police shooting victim who was in hospital to a woman's mobile phone via an MMS and that he stole a can of pepper spray from police.


Constable Gibbs was arrested last year along with three other men. The court heard on Monday the prosecution and defence were close to resolving the matter.


Senior Constable Branov was bailed to appear before court on August 30.


Both officers have been suspended without pay.