A survey of police culture and domestic violence in Queensland, after being contacted by police officers, said it had been impacted by alleged sexist remarks by two senior police officers. We are accepting new submissions.
Key Point:
- The survey solicits further submissions from “people with knowledge of cultural issues within the QPS.”
- It is unclear whether Chief Superintendent Ray Lawwedder took the leave of his own accord or was forced to resign.
- Queensland Police Commissioner Catalina Carroll seeks legal advice on the matter
The Commission of Inquiry on the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) Response to Domestic and Domestic Violence will be open for submissions until 5 September.
In a statement, the committee said it wanted to hear from “people with knowledge of cultural issues within QPS.”
This comes as former Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Taylor resigned on Friday and Chief Superintendent Ray Lowwedder resigned over the weekend amid protests over alleged misogynistic comments he made at two separate police meetings earlier this year. It was after
Queensland Police Union President Ian Reavers said it was “very important” that the police were given more resources, education, training and rehabilitation.
“The Queensland Police Union is very confident that some meaningful change can be achieved that will ensure victim protection and provide police with the resources and tools to better handle domestic violence cases. We are taking a forward-looking approach to
Rohweder has yet to publicly comment on allegations that he made obscene remarks at a police conference in March.
The investigation heard that the conference’s ceremony host suffered cuts to his face and told the audience that there had been a “rough publicity process.”
Mr. Rohweder is said to have exclaimed, “Did she stop you?”
Investigators heard that some officers were so offended that they walked away from the meeting.
Rohweder — who was superintendent at the time — was reprimanded for his comments, but was subsequently promoted in July.
A spokesperson for Queensland Police declined to comment on whether Loweder took the leave of his own accord or was sidelined.
Queensland Police Commissioner Catalina Carroll said she was seeking legal advice on the matter.
During the investigation, Commissioner Carroll said Mr. Lowwedder’s remarks were “extremely disrespectful” and “misogynistic.”
She said that while Loweder “reflected”, she “disputed” the language allegedly used in the incident.
Mr Taylor, the second senior police officer to be accused of inappropriate remarks, called his friend a “vagina whisperer” at another meeting attended by 100 members in Brisbane in April. resigned on Friday after an investigation heard that
“I didn’t mean to offend anyone and I deeply apologize for the damage it caused,” Taylor said in a statement.
carol support
The fallout has prompted various Queensland ministers to voice their support for Commissioner Carroll, including Transport Minister Mark Bailey, Energy Minister Mick De Brenni and Employment Minister Dee Farmer. .
“I absolutely support Commissioner Carroll in her role as Chief of Queensland Police. She is doing a very good job,” Bailey said over the weekend.
Opposition leader David Crisafri said Commissioner Carroll should lead a cultural change within the military.
“She deserves the opportunity to drive the changes coming from the Commission of Inquiry, but there are important changes that are needed,” said Crisafri.
Police Minister Mark Ryan, however, said questions had to be asked about the decline in police numbers in Queensland, which “makes police life very difficult”.
“What I would like to see from this research is that cultural change can happen where change is needed at the leadership level,” he said.
“We also want men and women to wear blue uniforms, have more colleagues standing by, and go back to laws that make Queenslanders safer. not.”
‘deplorable’
In response, Ryan said the Queensland government had invested $3 billion in police services, calling it “the largest investment in community safety in 30 years.”
He also said the government had strengthened judicial bail laws for youth and counted the safety of women and children as one of the areas for “major reform.”
“It is simply not true that the LNP suggests lack of resources or reform,” he said.
In an earlier statement, Ryan called Lowwedder’s comments “deplorable.”
“I always expect high standards from all police officers,” he said.
“The comments do not meet the high standards expected of a modern police service.”
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