Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has claimed some senior officers “took advantage” of outgoing Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll because she is a woman.
Commissioner Carroll announced Tuesday that she would resign as the state’s top police officer on March 1, after nearly five years in the top job.
Leavers said his efforts during his tenure were commendable and that he had “given his all” throughout his 41-year career in the police force.
The state’s 20th police commissioner decided to leave her job early after speaking out about a revolt by senior officers on the Gold Coast, allegedly as a result of how the QPS responds to youth crime.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll announced her shock resignation from the top job this week.
“Maybe if I were a man, I wouldn’t draw the attention of these other senior police officers who aren’t doing their job,” Leavers told Channel Nine on Wednesday.
“Because she is a woman, they treat her with absolute contempt and I think that is absolutely unfair on their part.
‘Whoever the police commissioner is has the ultimate authority and (those officers) must do their job and do what they are told, just like any other police officer in the state.
“There is a disconnect between senior management and frontline police.”
Leavers claimed that some officers had “simply taken advantage” of Ms Carroll during her tenure as boss.
“She’s a very good-natured woman, she’s a very thoughtful woman and I think they’ve taken advantage of that,” Mr Leavers said.
“In previous times I don’t think they would have had open hostility towards her and played their part as they should.”
He said he did not believe sexism was ingrained in the service, but said some senior officers needed to “get a grip” and start “doing their job as they’re told” and reconnect with frontline officers.
“Because the front line is the one that keeps Queenslanders safe as much as possible with the restrictions that we sometimes have.”
Commissioner Katarina Carroll announced she was resigning earlier than expected after speaking of a revolt by senior officers, allegedly over the state’s response to youth crime.
Carroll confirmed on Tuesday that he had moved up the meeting by two weeks to discuss renewing his contract, which was set to expire in July.
He said his decision to do so was to prevent his leadership from being a “distraction” after facing increasing pressure to resign after a Gold Coast police officer was sacked this month.
The officer had been removed from duty after claiming he helped catch armed criminals by authorizing officers to ram a stolen car on the Gold Coast.
The decision had led many police officers to threaten to walk off the job in support of their colleague, who they claim was just trying to keep the community safe.
“What happened with this intense speculation and talk, I just want to make it clear because this is about the organization doing extraordinary work,” he said.
‘I think that’s what I want. I don’t want the distraction for the QPS.
“I just want people to focus on what we’ve done, what we’ve accomplished and what we intend to do.”
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers (pictured) said she may not have received the same attention if “she was a man” and that “she is being treated with absolute contempt”.