Bruce Saunders, Adrian Tantari on campaign for senior police in Wide Bay

The Fraser Coast’s state members have spoken out about the campaign for District Duty Officers at police stations across the Wide Bay.

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders and Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari weigh in on need for District Duty Officers in Wide Bay.

The Fraser Coast’s state MPs have weighed in on the push to bring District Duty Officers to police stations across the Wide Bay.

The campaign to bring District Duty Officers to the region, spearheaded by the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Gympie Times and Bundaberg NewsMail, has begun in the aftermath of an inquest investigating the death of a young father in Maryborough in late October, 2022.

The inquest at Hervey Bay Courthouse delved into the moment William George Grimes, 31, was tasered after he doused himself with fuel on March 3, 2020, at Granville State School.

The inquest heard from experts who were unable to determine if it was the lighter in Mr Grimes’ hand or the taser used by police that ignited the flames that caused burns to 70 per cent of Mr Grimes’ body.

Mr Grimes died of his injuries a week later in hospital in Brisbane.

During the inquest, the role of District Duty Officers was raised repeatedly.

It revealed an urgent need for that specific type of senior police officer across the Wide Bay region – mobile police officers with experience who can provide support and advice in the field.

It will be one of the issues considered by Coroner Terry Ryan when he hands down his findings into the matter later in 2022 or early 2023.

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said he would be awaiting the coroner’s findings and what he recommended in regards to police resources for the region.

Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari.

It is understood the Wide Bay is the only region from the Gold Coast to Cairns that does not have a DDO, but the creation of five positions would give coverage to the region seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with a senior officer a phone call away.

DDOs are typically senior sergeants with more than 15 years’ experience on the force.

“I’ll always back what the coroner says,” Mr Saunders said.

“If he says we need DDOs, I’ll throw my 100 per cent support behind it.

“That’s why we have coroner’s reports, they come back with how we can do things better.”

The Fraser Coast’s state MPs have weighed in on the push to bring District Duty Officers to police stations across the Wide Bay.The campaign to bring District Duty Officers to the region, spearheaded by the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Gympie Times and Bundaberg NewsMail, has begun in the aftermath of an inquest investigating the death of a young father in Maryborough in late October, 2022.

Mr Saunders said all government took notice of coroner’s reports and responded to resourcing issues that were raised during coronial inquiries.

Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari said the allocation of resources was “an operational matter and is determined by the police commissioner, not the government”.

“There are more than 490 police in the Wide Bay Burnett Police District, which includes Hervey Bay, all of whom are totally committed to keeping our communities safe,” he said.

“The Commissioner of Police has said there will be an extra 150 police for each region, as part of the government’s commitment to 2000-plus extra police personnel by 2025.

“How those police and positions are allocated is decided by the QPS, not by government.

“In regards to the coronial inquiry, it would not be appropriate to comment while it is ongoing.”

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