Why Gold Coast cop Arron Ottaway was told to stop chasing stolen car

The outgoing police commissioner says she believes standing down a Gold Coast cop was “definitely the right decision” having reviewed footage of a pursuit.

Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway’s standing-down triggered a firestorm that helped bring down the police commissioner.

Outgoing police commissioner Katarina Carroll said she had reviewed officer body worn camera footage from the pursuit and standing down Gold Coast cop Arron Ottaway was “definitely the right decision”.

Ms Carroll was responding to claims Sen-Sgt Ottaway – stood down for defying an order to stop chasing a car containing allegedly armed teen offenders – was told by his superior to abandon the chase because overtime had not been approved.

Explosive new details have emerged about the controversial disciplinary action against Sen-Sgt Ottaway, which has angered frontline cops and helped topple Ms Carroll.

But Ms Carroll said the footage she reviewed vindicated the decision to stand Sen-Sgt Orraway down.

“The frontline (police ranks) need to know that,” she told 7 News.

Sen-Sgt Ottaway, a decorated 33-year police veteran, has been sidelined after allegedly directing colleagues to ram one of two stolen cars allegedly being driven by armed teenage offenders on a crime rampage on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway jogging on the Gold Coast recently. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Police sources have revealed that as he and other cops closed in on the second car – an Audi containing hardened and allegedly knife-wielding teen crooks – a senior officer sent from Brisbane directed them to stop as he was not authorising overtime.

But Sen-Sgt Ottaway told colleagues over the police radio that he was overriding the order as “we are hunting criminals”, sources said.

He also joked he had “wrecked” four police cars “so a little overtime won’t ruin the budget” and that he would likely be stood down and “writing my memoirs from prison”.

The Audi was found dumped soon after and three teens were tracked down and quickly arrested. A knife was allegedly found in the car.

Sources said there was a misunderstanding by some in the police force about fast-paced operational policing.

They said that as district duty officer, Sen-Sgt Ottaway – a former army infantryman who has been police commander for some of the Gold Coast’s biggest incidents including major bikie brawls – was authorised under police operating procedures to approve overtime.

Arron Ottaway was told to abandon the pursuit of a stolen car because his overtime had not been approved. (File picture:

But they said senior officers did not appreciate his “smart-arse” comments over the radio – especially after crews started joking about a #FreeOtters campaign that has led to humorous memes being circulated among rank-and-file cops.

An officer said in this case it showed QPS “considered it more appropriate to save money rather than apprehending armed offenders … who would have gone on to commit further crime had they not been arrested”.

“Operational policing happens in seconds and minutes; administrative policing happens in days and weeks,” they said. “Operational policing needs to be left to the tactical commander and ‘Otters’ is one of the best there is.”

Outgoing Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, however, says there’s more to the story.

“There’s a lot more to this that people aren’t aware of,” she told ABC Radio on Thursday morning.

“I watched the tape, I listened, and there were some serious breaches of policy and I think we need to let the internal investigation play out and see what the end result would be.”

Sources said there were 80 other unresourced police jobs on the Gold Coast at the time of the pursuit – half of them domestic violence cases – and only 16 crews rostered on.

About 11 crews were required for the stolen cars job, according to police insiders.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll resigned in the fallout of Gold Coast cop Arron Ottaway’s disciplinary action. Picture: Dan Peled

His emails detailed how offenders were using the Pacific Motorway as a raceway, homeowners were becoming vigilantes and undermanned police could not respond to calls for help – including, in one case, from an off-duty top cop who was fighting off a violent and drug-addled intruder in his own yard.

Sen-Sgt Ottaway told his bosses the Gold Coast police region seemed “more interested in budget” than providing urgently needed manpower and “our people are struggling”.

A petition demanding fair treatment for Sen-Sgt Ottaway has attracted more than 5500 signatures, many of them from serving police.

Rank-and-file anger over the latest disciplinary action against Sen-Sgt Ottaway was part of widespread police unrest that led to Ms Carroll’s dramatic resignation last week.

A damning Queensland Audit Office report late last year into police resourcing found that failed rostering and a lack of resources had led to a 38 per cent increase in overtime payments over the last four years, from $60.1m in 2018 to $82.8m in 2022-23.

Last week, Ms Carroll said the Ottaway matter was under investigation by Ethical Standards Command and there were allegations “which need to be independently and thoroughly investigated”.

It’s understood incoming Acting Commissioner Steve Gollschewski will meet with disgruntled Gold Coast police in coming days.

Speaking to media on the Gold Coast, Opposition leader David Crisafulli said he could not comment on the specifics of the allegations, but believed that should not be a consideration in the first place.

“Penny pinching should not be a factor in pinching crime,” he said.

“I'm mindful of commenting on this case specifically, but I will tell you what officers are telling me.

“Officers are saying to us that they don’t feel valued and respected by the government, they’re saying that they don’t have the laws to do their job.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Jarrod Bleijie hold a news conference in Brisbane today Thursday February 8, 2024. Picture, John Gass

“When I talk to long-serving police, they tell me they can’t wait to retire out or to leave and go to another career after serving their life in that career.

“That is heartbreaking and police need to know that fighting crime is something we back them in doing.

“I want every single person who wears the blue uniform to know that we are serious about giving them the laws and the resources to do their job.”

He said the latest incident where paramedics on their way to an emergency were allegedly terrorised by young criminals was another sign that “enough is enough”.

“How on earth did we get to the point where ambos just trying to do their job are now becoming the target of some sort of sick and twisted game (but) that’s where it’s reached in the youth crime crisis and crime crisis in this state.”

“We’ve got paramedics cowering in fear just trying to do their job.”

He also called on the State government to release the number of police officers currently serving in Queensland.

“There is angst in the community and it is growing every single day,” he said.

“We know the pressure police are under and the thin blue line keeps getting thinner.

Ms Carroll last week announced she would not be extending her contract as Commissioner sooner than planned to clear the air after revolt from within the service.

She said she was “disappointed” in the way her resignation played out.

“My decision was brought forward by quite a few months because I really wanted that to stop and I wanted the community to see what the QPS is doing as an organisation,” she said.

“It was tough. I love this organisation. I love this state.”

Ms Carroll said she didn’t believe she had taken the fall for the government on youth crime.

“I don’t think so, I’ve always had very, very good support from the government,” she said.

“I think that we are supported by a good organisation, I am always concerned by crime, I would love that there is never a victim.”

Ms Carroll’s last day on the job is Friday, where she will be farewelled with a traditional police piping out ceremony.

She said it would be hard to adjust to the slower pace of civilian life.

“The texts start early, the phone calls start early … that’s the greatest challenge going from that speed to slowing down,” she said.

“Time to walk the dog, she’s going to be very fit.”

In an exclusive sit down with 7 News, Ms Carroll’s message to her replacement was: “don’t underestimate how difficult (the role of commissioner) is”.

“It will be more difficult than you can even imagine, but enjoy it because you have a great organisation serving a great state,” she said.

Asked whether the top job had been more challenging than she anticipated, Ms Carroll said: “I think the last five years have been the most challenging in our police history,” she said.

“You will not fix youth crime entirely but if you intervene early and if you prevent and you respond well you can make a massive difference.

“I think everyone needs to play a part in this.”

Asked about comments that she had been taken advantage of because she is woman, Ms Carroll said: “I would be bitterly disappointed if that was the case, I have mostly experienced great support from good people irrespective of the fact that I’m a female

Ms Carroll said her final day on Friday will be “very hard”.

“I will miss it very much.”