Go Fund Me started for Senior Constable Luke Weiks in wake of workplace bullying allegations
A GoFundMe page has been set up for a police officer who was stabbed in the line of duty.
Crime & Justice
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A GOFUNDME page has been set up as a “last resort” for a police officer who was stabbed in the line of duty and has since claimed to have been a target of workplace bullying.
The page hopes to raise $20,000 to help with legal fees and living expenses for former Queensland police senior constable Luke Weiks, who was stabbed in the neck in a Townsville nightclub in December 2013 by former bouncer Andrew Max Wilson.
After undergoing life-saving surgery and later suffering additional medical complications, Sen-Constable Weiks transferred to a police communications centre.
He later moved to Brisbane and became a civilian employee of the Beenleigh Police Communications Centre in late 2017.
Kate Rasmussen from the Justice4Workers QLD set up the GoFundMe account for Mr Weiks as a way to help him deal with some workplace issues she said had arisen in the communications centre.
She said QPS was now reviewing the future of Mr Weiks’ position, which was created for him with the help of the Queensland Police Union of Employees.
“As a result, he’s had to get a lawyer to fight against a number of decisions that have been made regarding his employment,” she said.
“One of those is they are looking at changing the whole scope of his position and that it might not be there anymore.”
The Go Fund Me description also claims Mr Weiks had been the target of bullying.
“Rather than commend Luke for returning to work in the face of adversity, the QPS has relentlessly targeted Luke with bullying tactics, and repeated abuse of their disciplinary system and medical retirement process in an attempt to ‘manage him out’,” Ms Rasmussen wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Luke was eventually coerced into transitioning into a civilian position, under the threat of dismissal if he didn’t accept the position.
“Whilst the QPUE and one of its law firms assisted in initially disputing the transition, Luke is no longer a QPUE member now that he is a civilian.”
Ms Rasmussen said Mr Weiks faced growing legal bills due to fighting alleged workplace bullying and financial penalties.
“The goal posts and sustainability of that negotiated position have now changed and Luke again faces potential dismissal,” she wrote.
“Luke continues to be bullied, financially penalised, and is being singled out and victimised once again by the organisation that promotes that ‘Our (their) People Matter. (sic).
“Now Luke faces extensive legal bills to fight against the organisation that is trying to ruin him, and is making a stand against the systemic bullying and abuse of power in the QPS.”
Ms Rasmussen goes on to write that the “practice is widespread in the QPS and Luke is standing up to hold them accountable.”
She said Mr Weiks has started selling his belongings to help pay for his $10,000 and growing legal fees.
Ms Rasmussen said she had written to Queensland Police Union President about Mr Weik’s situation in November, but never received a reply.
“Any officer facing medical retirement could end up transitioned into a permanent civilian position only to be later told that the position was only temporary,” she wrote.
“This could mean termination of your employment.”
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers told the Courier Mail the union had previously assisted Mr Weiks but were not aware of any changes to his terms of employment.
“As has been acknowledged, the Queensland Police Union have expended a huge amount of time and money assisting Mr Weiks and also previously engaged an expert law firm and barrister to provide advice, support and assistance to Mr Weiks,” he said.
“The QPU have at all times abided by Mr Weiks’ wishes and instructions.
“The QPU would assist Mr Weiks if his current issues, predicament and situation related to the negotiated position however we are informed they do not have any nexus with his position and that his terms of employment have not altered.”
Wilson was found guilty in 2015 and sentenced to five years in jail for stabbing Sen-Constable Weiks in the neck at Townsville’s Santa Fe Gold nightclub.
He was sentenced to an additional six months jail in 2016 for a violent assault on a patron just months before stabbing Senior Constable Weiks.
Wilson could be eligible for parole on August 30, 2020.
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