NSW Police has apologised for the pain and hurt caused by their actions during the 1978 Sydney Mardi Gras protest march.
A week after an apology from the NSW Parliament to the 78ers, the force's LGBTI spokesman Detective Inspector Tony Crandell offered his own apology on behalf of police.
"I work very closely with the LGBTI community and I understand the depth of feeling about the role of police back in 1978," he said on behalf of Commissioner Andrew Scipione at the launch of the 38th parade on Friday.
"Today, we are a police force of diversity and we celebrate our diversity, particularly through our participation of Mardi Gras events and that way we police those events."
He said while the parliament's apology was on behalf of all government agencies, the police wanted to make their perspective known and say sorry themselves for the "pain and hurt" caused by police actions which included allegations of excessive force.
"We are very happy that Mardi Gras has invited us again and welcomed us to participate for our 20th year as marchers in the Mardi Gras parade," Det Supt Crandell said.
"I can tell you that (Saturday) night there will be many very, very proud police officers marching throughout the parade."
But 78ers who attended the launch expressed their disappointment Mr Scipione did not offer the apology himself.
Barbarella Karpinski was not quite 18 when she marched in 1978.
"An apology by Mr Scipione himself would be very much appreciated," she said.
"I was a young person at that time and I watched extreme violence ... we're waiting, so it's going to be his starring moment if he can give us an apology."
Det Supt Crandell said Mr Scipione was in rural NSW and unable to attend the event, but the apology was made with his full support and the sentiments raised were in his mind.
More than 500 activists descended on Darlinghurst in June 1978 to protest the criminalisation of homosexual acts.
The protest ended in violence, ill-treatment, public shaming and the arrest of more than 50 people, as well as allegations of police bashing some protesters.
The NSW Parliament apology came after an apology from The Sydney Morning Herald for publishing the names, addresses and occupations of many involved in the first march.
