Former QLD cop Briohny Lee Granzien faces Brisbane Magistrates’ Court for leaking police secrets

A former Queensland cop has admitted to leaking police secrets to her ex-boyfriend whom a court heard police had been investigating in relation to potential drug connections.

Former cop Briohny Lee Granzien leaves Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 22, 2024. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A former Brisbane police officer has been given a suspended prison sentence for leaking police secrets to a number of “old friends” – including two ex-boyfriends.

Briohny Lee Granzien, 44, shared restricted police information with three different individuals between July 2015 and February 2021, the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court heard at her sentence on Monday, July 22.

The court heard Granzien first shared information in March 2015 with a man she had been in a relationship with a number of years earlier.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins said the man had been under investigation in 2015 in relation to an alleged assault incident at the German Club in Woolloongabba.

The court heard Granzien, who became a police officer in 2014, conducted two searches on police database QPRIME relating to the incident.

The complainant later withdrew his statement to police.

Granzien then texted the former boyfriend: “It was good to see you.’

“Just to let you know (the complainant) asked for you to be fined. I read the report.”

Defence barrister Craig Eberhardt noted it wasn’t suggested that Granzien’s actions caused the complainant to withdraw his statement.

The court heard Granzien had shared police information with the same former boyfriend in 2019 and 2020.

She had first sent him a photo taken of her computer screen at her workplace, the Inala Police Station, relating to a traffic infringement he had been issued with, the court heard.

Granzien also conducted searches on QPRIME, while the ex-boyfriend was at her house in Annerley, relating to his brother’s wife and her residential address.

The court heard she had also searched QPRIME for information about a man in January 2020 – three months before that man provided a statement to police alleging to have witnessed wilful damage and assaults committed by her ex-boyfriend. He is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Granzien later sent the ex-boyfriend a photo of the signed witness statement.

Former cop Briohny Lee Granzien leaving Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The court heard she continued to conduct more searches on QPRIME about her ex-boyfriend in June 2020 – while police were investigating him for potential links to a drug trafficking operation.

He is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Granzien’s other offences included sending vehicle registration details, including the owner’s name and location, to a different man – with whom the court heard she had also previously been in a relationship.

And she sent a photo of a confidential police report to a friend via Facebook.

Mr Wilkins said Granzien texted the friend: “Don’t tell anyone about it, as I could get into so much trouble for it”.

He said Granzien’s offending was a breach of trust against not only the Queensland Police, but also the community.

Granzien pleaded guilty on July 22 to two counts of disclosing official secrets and four counts of using a restricted computer without consent and cause or intent to cause damage, detriment, or gain.

Mr Wilkins said the matter had originally been set down for a three-day hearing, but the prosecution had been informed just last week that Granzien would instead plead guilty.

Mr Eberhardt said it was not suggested any of Granzien’s offending had harmed anyone or compromised police investigations.

He acknowledged the information regarding the wife ofthe boyfriend’s brother had been “top secret” but said it “in reality” did not cause any problems.

Mr Eberhardt said she had not acted out of any corrupt desire for personal gain, but had “behaved very foolishly” out of “misplaced loyalty” to her old friends.

The court heard Granzien resigned from the police service in March 2022 and was now a stay-at-home-mum with two children.

Magistrate Louise Shephard noted Granzien had been nominated for a bravery award before her resignation.

Mr Eberhardt said Granzien suffered from PTSD related to a number of traumatic incidents throughout her years with the police.

He tendered a number of letters of support from family and friends, which he said spoke of Granzien as a decent, loving and “contributing” human being.

She had no criminal history and had not reoffended since the last offence in 2021.

Ms Shephard noted that it was important Granzien’s sentence deter similar conduct by others and reflect the importance of maintaining public confidence in police officers.

She sentenced Granzien to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for 18 months.