Former Qld police commissioner Jim O’Sullivan dies
Queensland’s 17th police commissioner and the detective inspector who headed the investigation into corrupt police has died this morning.
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Queensland’s 17th police commissioner – a man instrumental in bringing corrupt police to justice during the Fitzgerald inquiry – has died aged 85.
Jim O’Sullivan, who was commissioner from 1992 to 2000, rose through the ranks after being hand picked by Tony Fitzgerald as a detective inspector to lead the investigation into allegations of corruption within the Queensland Police Service.
Premier Steven Miles, Police Minister Mark Ryan, Tony Fitzgerald KC, Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and former police commissioner Bob Atkinson are among those who have paid tribute to the late Mr O’Sullivan.
“On Wednesday morning, we lost our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, James Patrick O’Sullivan, better known as Jim,” the former commissioner’s daughters Avis McWhinney and Melinda Malo said in a statement provided to The Courier-Mail.
“He was a devoted family man and showered each of us with unconditional love.
“His two daughters were by his side when he passed in Caboolture hospital. They, along with his late wife Adele O’Sullivan (née Hurley), lived through his policing career and proudly watched as he applied his strong sense of justice to righting the wrongs of corrupt police officers in the Queensland police during the Fitzgerald inquiry.
“Each of Jim’s grandchildren were raised on his stories of the Fitzgerald-era exploits, and each of them adored him.
“He did everything possible to make sure they had the best start in life they could, and his tales of bringing crooked cops to justice taught them right from wrong.
“Jim’s wife Adele was the defining influence on his life. Her passing in 2016 hurt us all deeply, but him the most.
“Adele was his rock and stood by him as he weathered every storm of his career and those beyond it.
“We are all devastated by his passing. To us, Jim was larger than life and nothing could prepare us for this loss.
“Our only comfort is knowing that he has gone on to his great reward and once again has his beloved wife by his side. We appreciate all condolences received and those to come.”
Close friends have said the former detective “took no prisoners” as he doggedly pursued dirty cops and later, as commissioner, was instrumental in rejuvenating the service.
Mr O’Sullivan has been credited with “turning” the first informant, which led to others co-operating with the long-running inquiry.
The historic inquiry resulted in the resignation of then-premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and the jailing of police commissioner Terry Lewis, as well as three former ministers.
Mr Fitzgerald said he was saddened by the loss of the investigator he worked alongside for two years.
“I was sad to learn of Jim’s death,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“He was a man of great integrity, totally reliable and an outstanding member of the inquiry team who led the police seconded to the inquiry with great skill and determination.
“He was a great Queenslander.”
Mr O’Sullivan was given a glowing endorsement by Mr Fitzgerald in his 630-page report, tabled to parliament in 1989.
“Special mention is warranted with reference to Detective Inspector James Patrick O’Sullivan,” Mr Fitzgerald wrote.
“This officer jeopardised his career when he accepted appointment as the senior police officer seconded to assist this commission in the circumstances which then existed and served in that role with distinction throughout the inquiry.
“Inspector O’Sullivan is 50 years of age, and his immediate promotion to the senior grade within the rank of Superintendent would be fitting recognition of his contribution to the Police Force and not discordant having regard to the ages of other Superintendents.”
A statement released by the QPS said Mr O’Sullivan was a “highly respected, honourable and thoughtful leader who guided the (service) with distinction”.
“He has left a legacy of integrity, humility, and unwavering dedication from his 41 years of service during which he made a significant and positive impact on the QPS and Queensland community.
“Former commissioner O’Sullivan was an exceptional leader who always put people first, embodying professionalism, courage and commitment.
“He will be remembered as a pioneering leader in the QPS who helped shape the contemporary police service we have today.”
The statement said current Commissioner Steve Gollschewski shared his condolences, along with the entire QPS, with the family, friends and colleagues of Mr O’Sullivan.
Premier Steven Miles and Police Minister Mark Ryan also expressed their “deep sadness” and also paid tribute to his efforts throughout the Fitzgerald inquiry.
“Jim O’Sullivan was a good police officer, a good police commissioner and most importantly, a good man,” Mr Miles said.
“He helped the police service navigate the post-Fitzgerald era and helped to restore public confidence in police.
“They were difficult times, but Jim was committed to ensuring Queenslanders would have the police service they deserved.”
Mr Ryan said Mr O’Sullivan was a gentleman of the highest order.
“Jim O’Sullivan was exactly the sort of person Queensland needed as police commissioner in the wake of the Fitzgerald inquiry,” he said.
“Ethical, professional and dedicated to serving the people of Queensland, Jim led by example, to ensure the QPS would emerge from the dark days of the pre-Fitzgerald era a better, more community based and thoroughly professional organisation.
“To Jim’s family and friends I extend my sincere condolences. Jim O’Sullivan was a great Queenslander.”
Former commissioner Bob Atkinson, who was commissioner following Mr O’Sullivan’s retirement, said the state owed his predecessor a great deal.
“At a personal level, I have enormous admiration and gratitude for Jim O’Sullivan,” he said.
“Many thought that the Fitzgerald inquiry, which commenced in 1987, would be a six-week whitewash but those people didn’t reckon with Tony Fitzgerald and Jim O’Sullivan.
“That two-year inquiry changed Queensland hopefully forever and certainly changed the police department.
“Jim continued on after the inquiry as assistant commissioner for the North Coast region where I had the privilege of working for him and later as the deputy commissioner and then the commissioner for eight years from 1992 to 2000, where I again had the privilege of working for him at police headquarters.
“I worked for him in a number of roles, including being seconded to the public sector management review and the implementation of those recommendations.
“To my mind, he was a great Queenslander and the police department, the community and at a personal level, owe him a great deal.”
Queensland Retired Police Association state president Greg Early said Mr O’Sullivan “took no prisoners” when it came to weeding out corruption.
Mr Early said he first got to know Mr O’Sullivan during the Fitzgerald inquiry while working for then commissioner Terry Lewis.
“At that time I was staff officer – or personal assistant – to Terry Lewis,” he said.
“He came into my office and requested things out of the safe in my office and also asked many questions, which I answered.
“After demanding things from my safe, he told me he wanted a report and that he’d wait for it.”
Mr Early said Mr O’Sullivan would also take years’ worth of his shorthand notebooks and diaries that would take commission staff months to decipher.
“I always had a great relationship with him and knew at all times the task he was heading up,” he said.
Mr Early said following the completion of the Fitzgerald Report, they found themselves working in the same region – the North Coast region – where Mr Early was answerable to Mr O’Sullivan.
“I found out after that people thought we would fight and I would resign but when Jim came to the region, he indicated he would not be there for much of the time in the first 12 months because he would be involved in court cases for the commission of inquiry,” he said.
“He mentioned the region was running well and asked me to keep it going.”
Mr Early said Mr O’Sullivan trusted him implicitly and they became good friends.
“As did our wives, who are now both deceased, but were great friends from then until their passing,” he said.
He said as an investigator, Mr O’Sullivan was “fearless” and as a leader, compassionate.
“They took no prisoners,” he said of Mr O’Sullivan’s work on the Fitzgerald inquiry.
When Mr O’Sullivan became commissioner, the pair toured parts of the state together.
It was during visits to one and two-officer police stations that Mr O’Sullivan recognised the work police wives were putting in to help run those stations.
“He soon picked up (that) the wives should be getting an allowance,” said Mr Early, who would rise to the rank of assistant commissioner.
“By Jim getting around the region and seeing what these police wives were doing, he supported that well and truly, and that was on account of the knowledge he gained visiting those places.”
A biography on the Queensland Police Museum website credits Mr O’Sullivan with a “substantial record of achievement (that) had a far-reaching impact on the policy and operational direction of policing in Queensland”.
“Mr O’Sullivan oversaw the introduction of the ‘Police Beat Project’ piloted in Toowoomba in 1993,” the biography says.
“He launched the ‘Identify It’ property marking project in 1995. Mr O’Sullivan believed public confidence could be achieved by directing more resources towards operational policing needs and by improving the professional image through developing professional policing competencies.”
Paul Braddy, who served as Police Minister from 1992 until 1996 and was among those responsible for Mr O’Sullivan’s appointment as commissioner, said he was “an honest man who performed the role of police officer throughout his career with great integrity”.
“One of the interesting things he told me – after the Fitzgerald inquiry was finished of course – was when Tony Fitzgerald sent for him to say he’d like to appoint him chief investigator, Jim replied ‘this could end my career if this inquiry doesn’t succeed – but I couldn’t live with myself if I knocked it back’,” Mr Braddy said.
“So he said, ‘I’ll do it’.
“Fitzgerald knew he had to get the absolute most honest person to be his investigator and he picked well. It was so vital.
“I found Jim to be a man of integrity and of great commonsense, leading to good leadership.
“I had the utmost respect for him and we had a good working relationship.
“The reality is we became good friends.”
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