Katarina Carroll’s resignation sparks explosive claims from Ian Leavers, Shannon Fentiman
Police Union president Ian Leavers has launched a passionate defence of Commissioner Katarina Carroll claiming a recent revolt against her was ‘because she is a woman’.
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Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has claimed some of the revolt by senior officers against Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll had been “because she is a woman”.
Mr Leavers on Wednesday praised the outgoing Commissioner as a “good-natured and caring woman” and claimed “they’ve just taken advantage of it”.
It comes as Ms Carroll was forced to sensationally resign early as the state’s top cop to “clear the air” after mounting pressure over Queensland’s youth crime crisis.
Mr Leavers said she had been treated unfairly.
“Perhaps if she was a man, she wouldn’t get the attention from these other senior police who won’t do their job,” Mr Leavers said on Channel 9.
“Because she’s a woman they’re treating her with an absolute contempt and I think that’s absolutely unfair on her part.
“I’m just seeing the disconnect and I know what happens behind the scenes. And you look at the Gold Coast and they openly defy things that are required to be done.
“Whoever is the commissioner of police has the ultimate authority and they need to do their job and do as they are told, like every other police officer in the state.
“And I’m just feeling that is not happening and when we have other police saying ‘there is not a disconnect and we are just a bunch of whingers’ - I say I absolutely reject that lock, stock and barrel.
“There is a disconnect between senior management and the frontline police.”
When Mr Leavers said “some of the senior police have to start doing their job as well” - he was asked if there was a sexism issue in the police service.
“I’m not saying sexism but I would say this... she is a very good-natured woman, she is a very caring woman and I just think they’ve just taken advantage of it,” Mr Leavers said.
“In previous times I don’t think they would have had the open hostility towards her and they would have performed their role as they should.
“And I’ve just seen over the Gold Coast over a period of time, they just totally disregard it.
“That could be one issue. I don’t think there is sexism because there is a lot of police men and women who are doing an outstanding job.
“But there are some in the senior ranks who just need to get a grip of it and get ahead with the times and start doing their job as they are told to and start connecting with the frontline. “Because the frontline are the ones who are keeping Queenslanders safe as much as we possibly can with restraints we have at times.”
Speaking a day after Ms Carroll’s resignation, Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman said she had no doubt the Commissioner experienced sexism during her time in the police service.
“We know through the Commission of Inquiry that there is sexism in the police force,” Ms Fentiman said.
“So I have no doubt that she did experience that and she has talked previously about that.
“But she has made the decision that the time is right for there to be a transition of leadership.”
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