Brett Forte’s widow slams ‘police intimidation,bullying’ after tragedy

The grieving widow of slain officer Senior Constable Brett Forte said she and her husband’s police partner were subjected to “ongoing threats and manipulation” after his death.

The grieving widow of slain officer Senior Constable Brett Forte said she and her husband’s police partner were subjected to “ongoing bullying, intimidation, threats, gaslighting and manipulation” for asking questions about whether his murder was preventable.

In an emotional scene outside the final sitting of the inquest into her husband’s murder, Senior Constable Susie Forte said she and Senior ­Constable Cath Nielsen were targeted by some of their ­colleagues because they did not “stick to the brief”.

Brett was murdered on May 29, 2017, by gunman Ricky Maddison following a slow-speed pursuit on the ­outskirts of Toowoomba.

Maddison ambushed the officers, opening fire with a machine gun. Both Susie and Constable Nielsen told the ­inquest they were targeted for asking questions about ­whether Brett’s death was preventable.

Susan and Brett Forte on their wedding day.

Brett Forte.

Susie thanked her supporters, the brave police who risked their lives that day, the SERT operatives who handled the siege and the PolAir crew.

She also paid tribute to her legal team, barrister David Funch, and solicitor Dave Garratt, who died in December, for giving Brett a voice.

“I respect the State Coroner’s findings and understand he can only examine what is put before him,” Susie said.

“However, the police investigation into my husband’s death has been nothing short of disgraceful and (was not) impartial.

“Many issues I asked questions about continue to be swept under the carpet and there is no doubt an incident like this will happen again in the near future as the problems have not been rectified.

“Senior Constable Cath ­Nielsen and I did not stick to the brief like certain officers asked us to do.”

Susie Forte on Tuesday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Susie said her husband’s death was preventable.

“We asked questions and when we did, we were exposed to ongoing bullying, intimidation, threats, gaslighting and manipulation by the very same people who took a pledge to serve with honour,” she said.

“The QPS motto ‘our people matter’, to me, is a complete fallacy.

“Brett’s death was preventable. He was murdered in a very undignified way.

“However, it has felt like this has been dealt with by the Queensland Police Service as if Brett suffered a paper cut to his finger.

“Instead of revealing the truth and owning up to what went wrong in the lead-up to my husband’s death and what could have been done better, the motive of the investigation appears to have been to have Cath and I portrayed as ­vindictive or crazy, all because we wanted answers to our valid questions.

“Cath and I have been subjected to belittling submissions that defame our character, we’ve been blamed for Brett’s death and we’ve been made a mockery of our personal work abilities, which has been heartbreaking and unprofessional.”

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

Susie said she understood why young police officers were hesitant to speak up if they believed something wasn’t right.

“Because if you do, it is highly likely that you’ll be wrongly targeted, just like what has happened to Cath and I,” she said.

“The emotional torture I have been subjected to has been worse than hearing my husband murdered over the police radio.

“I am a person with integrity who would have respected those if they’d told the truth.

“However, what I do not accept is the cover-ups and the constant worry of not knowing what complaint is going to be thrown at me next by the QPS.

“I’ve been working full-time, studying full-time, raising our children as a single mum and dealing with this hardship and pain for the last six years.

“I am sad, I am drained, I have not had the chance to even grieve my husband’s death as I feel like I’ve had to be one step ahead, 24/7.”

To her husband and lawyer, she said: “Thank you for being the kind, decent, funny people you both were and for making me a stronger person.”