Opinion: Amateurish policing exposed in shocking coroner’s report in death of Brett Forte

The coroners’ report into the brutal death of police officer Brett Forte highlights some policing activities that could be best described as amateurish, writes Terry Goldsworthy.

This week, some six years after the fatal shooting of Queensland Police officer Brett Forte, the coroner finally delivered his findings into his death.

A reading of the report highlights serious failings within the QPS and its response to serious incidents involving violent armed offenders, in this case Ricky Maddison, the killer of Forte. The coroner highlighted that vital intelligence was not shared to all police.

In the lead up to the fatal shooting there had been numerous reports of automatic gunfire in the Wallers Rd area, where Maddison was residing.

Wallers Rd was the location where the pursuit of Maddison came to an end as he opened up with an automatic rifle, firing at the pursuing police vehicles and fatally wounding Senior Constable Brett Forte.

Senior Constable Brett Forte receiving a service medal during his time at Caboolture Police Station.

The coroner recommended improved handling of intelligence and reports of shots fired being subject to more rigorous threat assessments.

Whilst pursuing police were not aware of all of the potential intelligence holdings, they were aware he was armed and dangerous. The heavily armed SERT team had been previously engaged to try and locate him in the days leading up to the fatal shootout.

This was not an ordinary offender that Forte and his fellow officers were attempting to intercept, he had been classified as a category 1 high risk offender some weeks prior to the fatal attempt to arrest him. Yet no senior officer saw fit to stop the pursuit or ensure that officers had donned bullet proof vests or any attempt to ensure officers with access to patrol rifles were available to assist in the arrest of Maddison.

Ricky Maddison.

As one senior officer noted “there was no evidence of overall tactical command” and a lack of situational awareness.

The coroners’ report highlights some policing activities that could be best described as amateurish.

They include the insertion of a surveillance camera opposite the address of Maddison, which he subsequently discovered. The camera was inscribed with “Gatton Police” on the back. Another officer, who was off duty, was discovered by an associate of Maddison walking near Maddison’s residence. The associate confronted the officer and sent a photo of him to Maddison.

Such amateur sleuthing did nothing to lessen Maddison’s paranoia as noted by the coroner.

The coroner rightly found that there was a “significant failure of leadership” in terms of the operational and tactical management of the pursuit in the lead up to the fatal confrontation with Maddison.

This is now being addressed by a recommendation to create District Duty Officer positions in Toowoomba.

Ironically such positions have been commonplace in areas such as the Gold Coast for 10 years or more.

A reasonable question is why were such positions not in place already in Toowoomba?

This question becomes even more relevant given that all three of the most recent fatal police shootings in Queensland have occurred in the Southern Region, in which Toowoomba is situated.

Perhaps the most damning aspect of this whole saga has been the treatment of Forte’s wife,Senior Constable Susie Forte and Senior Constable Cath Nielsen, his partner on the day of the fatal interaction. Both women are still serving police officers, and both are victims of appalling treatment.

Both officers sought to raise reasonable concerns as to the circumstances that resulted in the killing of a husband and a workmate.

Susie Forte and Senior Constable Cath Nielsen. Picture: Liam Kidston

Such efforts to uncover the full facts resulted in threats to discipline and criminally charge both women.

The Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence used the example of Forte and Nielsen to criticise the service for creating a “culture of fear of speaking up”.

These women have been subject to a failure of support from the highest levels of the Queensland Police Service.

The Commissioner, Katarina Carroll, should apologise to these brave women for the way they have been treated.

Dr Terry Goldsworthy is an Associate Professor at Bond University who has previously worked as a Detective Inspector in the Queensland Police Service, with over 28 years’ policing experience.

Terry Goldsworthy. Picture: Nigel Hallett