Large groups of officers, accompanied by sniffer dogs, descended on Oxford Street and its venues in central Sydney on Saturday.
They allegedly shoved, berated and forced patrons to remove their clothes in public view as part of drug searches, according to a joint letter from Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and Sydney Mayor Clover Moore.
One person who was searched felt so traumatised they could not stop crying, while another said they were only searched after a dog was directed to sit near them.
During a drag show that night, LGBTQI bar Universal Sydney was stormed by police who refused to leave, causing swathes of patrons to head for the doors.
"Neither of us have received so many complaints about police in more than 10 years," Mr Greenwich and Ms Moore wrote.
"The role of police is to protect the community from harm, not to intimidate them, treat them with suspicion for no reason, or spoil their fun.
"There was no riot or crime wave on Oxford Street last Saturday night that warranted such excessive, aggressive and intimidating police actions."
A number of hospitality workers felt unsafe over fears the police conduct could impact their privacy, employment or immigration status.
Throughout the night, police also told revellers to "f*** off" or said "if you don't like it, move to Melbourne", the letter alleges.
NSW Police confirmed they had conducted an operation on Saturday that was intended to "proactively disrupt drug supply and address anti-social behaviour".
Officers conducted 93 searches, which resulted in 42 drug detections.
But Mr Greenwich and Ms Moore warned the experience had left the community traumatised, eroded their trust in police and undermined drug harm minimisation.
Their letter, which was addressed to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, urged the watchdog to investigate Saturday night's conduct and recommend reform.
A NSW Police spokesperson said Surry Hills Police Area Command recognise the importance of community feedback and maintaining trust in police.
The command has engaged with community and industry stakeholders, including Mr Greenwich, the spokesperson said.
"Through ongoing engagement and partnership, our focus is on reducing violence, crime, and fear, while ensuring Surry Hills continues to be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all," they said.
The police's relationship with LGBTQI communities has long been plagued by controversies and accusations of brutality.
A 2023 report from a NSW inquiry into LGBTQI hate crimes found police had failed to investigate potential gay hate crimes for decades.
Ten years earlier, LGBTQI community members and allies rallied against police after footage showed an officer throwing a handcuffed teenager to the ground during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.
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