Grubs in the ranks: Qld Police boss admits sexism rife in senior ranks

Following shock revelations two senior police made lewd remarks at leadership conferences - including a deputy who talked about a ‘vagina whisperer’ - the Police Commissioner has admitted there is a ‘significant’ problem.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has admitted there is a “significant” problem with misogyny and sexism within the police service, after revelations two senior police made lewd remarks at leadership conferences - including a deputy who referred to a gynaecologist as a “vagina whisperer”.

In an intense grilling at the Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence, Ms Carroll denied there was widespread cultural problems in the ranks but accepted there was a problem with officers being sexist, misogynist or racist.

The commissioner was taken to task for not publicly calling out lewd and inappropriate comments made by senior staff at formal functions and was also questioned if she overstated the capabilities of the new DV command in 2021 after not originally seeking new funding.

“It wasn’t the intention to mislead anyone,” Ms Carroll told the inquiry.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Thursday. Picture: Liam Kidston

The inquiry was also told the police service’s media and PR team had 38 permanent positions, compared to just 27 allocated to the service’s strategic capability response to domestic and family violence.

Of the 29 intelligence assessments on DV or sexual offences made recently, only five had been provided to the specialist domestic and family violence command.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Ruth O’Gorman said one in particular, an intelligence assessment that found an increase in domestic violence perpetrated by members of outlaw motorcycle gangs, had not been given to the domestic and family violence command.

The inquiry heard officers had complained that superiors had made “completely disgusting” comments in senior leadership conferences but that they were dealt with by “local managerial resolution” .

In one incident at a senior leaders’ conference, a Superintendent had yelled out from the crowd “did she shut her legs on you?” after the master of ceremonies had a visible injury to his face requiring stitches and joked it had been a “rough promotional process”.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Ruth O’Gorman. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms O’Gorman said the joke implied the male police officer with the cut on his face had been promoted by performing “cunnilingus” on a more senior female officer.

“That’s definitely what it implies, yes,” Ms Carroll said.

The superintendent who made the comment in March in front of 100 police was promoted to chief superintendent in July.

Ms Carroll said he’d been given local managerial guidance, which could not be taken into account when deciding if someone should receive a promotion.

In another incident, a deputy commissioner referred to their friend, a gynaecologist, as a “vagina whisperer” to a conference of senior police in Brisbane in April this year.

Ms Carroll said she personally counselled the officer for the inappropriate comment.

Inquiry Commissioner Judge Deborah Richards said: “Can I just ask something about those two conferences - does that speak to you about the culture of the police that people are comfortable enough to use that sort of derogatory language in a semipublic space?” she said.

Ms Carroll responded: “I’ve been in this role for three years now. That has never occurred or reported to me ever in the previous years I’ve been in this role.”

Ms Richards said: “So it’s worsening culture?”

Ms Carroll responded: “It’s happened twice now this year. So to say that I was upset and appalled, having regard to the reform work we are doing, is probably an understatement.”

When asked if she accepted there was a “level of problem within the QPS with misogynistic and disrespectful views towards women infecting how police officers respond to domestic and family violence” Ms Carroll responded “yes there is”.

The inquiry also heard one officer - a detective with 20 years’ experience - had written in following a call for submissions to claim that 90 per cent of sexual assault complaints were “completely fabricated or the women have a misunderstanding of sexual assault”.

The officer went on to list reasons why women made up sexual assault allegations, including “consented but didn’t really enjoy the interaction” or “too drunk to remember”.

Other officers who responded to a survey said the police service has a bad culture but “management won’t admit it” and are “hellbent on denying it”.

The inquiry heard Ms Carroll was asked whether a summons was needed to force her to give evidence at the inquiry after she initially declined to take part. However she later agreed to attend.

Outside the court, Ms Carroll told media she was committed to reform but acknowledged the many hardworking police who were not part of any cultural problems.

“I’ve been in the organisation for nearly 40 years and I know how many people are committed, are committed to, particularly victims,” she said.

Asked about the comments her officers had made about women, Ms Carroll said: “I’d say sick. Disappointed and upset. Our job is to look after everybody. Our job is to protect the public.”