Inquiry requests disciplinary files of police senior executive

A senior police officer has been accused of telling a female colleague to “get pregnant” so he no longer had to work with her. It comes as the commissioner is set to be recalled to an inquiry.

The disciplinary files of the Queensland Police Service’s entire senior executive have been requested by the commission of inquiry following shock revelations about the conduct of two high-ranking officers.

And The Courier-Mail can reveal another senior officer is the subject of a complaint after he allegedly made a comment about wanting a female colleague to “get pregnant” so he would no longer have to work with her.

The senior officer is not a member of the executive leadership team – which includes the commissioner, deputy and assistant commissioners and a chief superintendent – whose records have been requested.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll is likely to be recalled to the Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence after giving evidence on August 18.

The inquiry on that day heard explosive testimony that Deputy Commissioner Paul Taylor and another senior officer, Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder, made lewd and inappropriate comments at separate leadership conferences, with counsel assisting the inquiry, Ruth O’Gorman, saying they were examples of poor culture.

The inquiry heard Mr Taylor, during a formal speech at a conference earlier this year, referred to a gynaecologist friend as a “vagina whisperer”.

Chief Supt Rohweder, at another conference, called out “did she shut her legs on you”, after the MC joked about a “rough promotional process” while referring to a cut on his face.

Both incidents were dealt with at the time by “local managerial guidance” and Chief Supt Rohweder – then a superintendent – was promoted soon after.

Mr Taylor resigned a day after the incidents were made public and Chief Supt Rohweder remains on leave, with Ms Carroll saying she was now seeking legal advice.

The request for the disciplinary records of the executive leadership team is understood to have created a stir within the QPS and it is not clear whether they have been provided to the inquiry.

The inquiry also reopened its call for submissions about police culture following Ms Carroll’s evidence and has since received around 100 fresh responses.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Taylor arriving at Cairns airport from Brisbane Photo: Brian Cassey

A spokesperson from the inquiry said the decision on whether to recall Ms Carroll would be made after Monday.

“The Commission of Inquiry will make a decision on whether Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll or other witnesses are recalled once the closing date for submissions has passed on 5 September,” the spokesperson said.

“The Commission has requested further material from the QPS on a range of topics and that material will also inform the decision on whether further public hearings are needed.”

The inquiry has also heard about an officer using the pseudonym “Patrick Jayne” who posted derogatory comments about domestic violence call-outs on a private police Facebook group.

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

In one post he spoke of the parties involved in the “10th DV of the night”, ranking them from “dogs …” or “very poor quality”, “bulls …” or “not true” to “bats …” or “insane”.

The inquiry has been told 78 officers have recently been identified as responding to inappropriate social media posts and were being investigated.

The Queensland Police Service did not provide information about whether any action had been taken in relation to the complaint about the senior officer alleged to have made the pregnancy comment.

It also did not answer specific questions about whether action had been taken against “Patrick Jayne” or the 78 officers.

“The QPS is not in a position to comment on specific matters which remain the subject of ongoing internal inquiries,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“The QPS continues to assist with all requests made by the commission of inquiry.

“All QPS members are rightly expected to adhere to a high standard of professional conduct and workplace behaviour.

“Instances where officers fail to meet these expectations will not be tolerated and are appropriately investigated.”