Detective Inspector Steve Hollands retires from Queensland Police

One of Queensland’s top cops, who helped solve one of the state’s most horrific crimes which killed 15 people has called it a day after almost 42 years.

One of Queensland’s top cops, who helped solve the horrific Childers Backpacker fire which killed 15 people and fought off a cancer of his own, has called it a day after almost 42 years.

Detective Inspector Steve Hollands was farewelled by colleagues, friends and family at his piping out ceremony at the Dutton Park Police Station today as he ended the career he started with the Queensland Police Service at just 19-years-old.

Having most recently served as the inspector of the East Crime Group, an area which stretches from South Bank to as far as Stradbroke Island, the 59-year-old celebrates what was a decorated career.

His service included three years in the arson squad, where he was part of the investigation team which helped put Robert Paul Long behind bars for the arson of the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers that killed nine women and six men in 2000.

Inspector Steve Hollands, who has retired from the Queensland Police Service after almost 42 years.

Det Insp Hollands was then handed the reigns of a cold case investigation, which would go on to be a defining moment in his career.

As part of the homicide team in 2003, he would go on to solve the murder of Brisbane war veteran Cyril Crust, who was stabbed 24 times by Scott Hambly at his Keperra home in 1997.

Detective Senior Constable Kerry Wilson and then Detective Senior Sgt Steve Hollands attending Supreme Court.

But on top of putting dangerous criminals behind bars, Det Insp Hollands has had his own battle on his hands in recent years, fighting off mouth and throat cancer before eventually returning to work to finish his career on his own terms.

“When I was first diagnosed, it made me look at my career and think maybe it might have been time to step away, it was a kick in the face, you definitely look at your own mortality,” he said.

Fireman Darryl Livermore inspects remains of dormitory on upper level of Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers in 2000. Picture: Anthony Weate

“Then when things started to settle down, I didn’t want my health to be the thing that ended (my career).”

Having seen many heinous crimes in his career, Det Insp Hollands said it was hard to go past the Childers Backpacker fire and Mr Crust’s cold case as investigations he would remember the most.

Inspector Steve Hollands, who has retired from the Queensland Police Service after almost 42 years.

“(The fire) was tragic, it was horrific what happened to those 15 victims, but not only to them, also to their families and the community in general, it really hurt the town and also the other 80 young people who survived but had everything destroyed,” he said.

“Then finding someone responsible for killing a war veteran, taking on something like that, you just knew you wanted to do the right thing by the victim, his family and the community and I was proud of the fact that we were able to do that.”

Having served in many different roles during his four decades in the QPS, including time in Indigenous communities in Central Queensland and as the senior sergeant at Upper Mt Gravatt Police Station, Det Insp Hollands said his legacy would be the amount of officers who had gone on to bigger roles to help the community.

And as he steps away with big shoes to fill, he said domestic violence and youth crime were two of the biggest issues facing law enforcement in Queensland going forward.