Outgoing Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll farewelled
Katarina Carroll has been farewelled in Brisbane as her police colleagues won’t rule out vying for the top job and say “we will hit the ground running”.
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Commissioner Katarina Carroll has been farewelled in Brisbane after her sudden “clear the air” resignation, 41 years after joining the Queensland Police Service.
Officers set up a guard of honour on the front steps of the Roma St headquarters on Friday as the police pipe and drums played.
Ms Carroll was flanked by family including husband Michael and son Connor.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon didn’t rule out throwing her hat in the ring for the top job.
“Look, that’s not something I’m going to comment on today,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Today is all about Katarina Carroll.”
Ms Carroll, who was sworn in as a police officer in 1983, retires after being police commissioner for almost five years, following a stint as the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner.
Among her many roles she also headed the state’s G20 security response when world leaders including Us president Barack Obama visited Brisbane in 2014.
Steve Gollschewski has been appointed the acting Queensland Police Commissioner and was among hundreds of people to farewell Ms Carroll.
Ms Carroll declined to be interviewed by The Courier-Mail in her final week as commissioner but spoke to other media outlets.
Acting commissioner Steve Gollschewski told The Courier-Mail it was an “emotional” day.
“Katarina and I have been long time friends but more importantly what we have done today is acknowledge her remarkable career,” he said.
Mr Gollschewski described Ms Carroll as a “wonderful person to the end”.
“She has given me plenty of advice,” he said.
“We are going to hit the ground running.”
The commissioner resigned following weeks of speculation and pressure which intensified after the shocking murder of Redbank Plains grandmother Vyleen White, allegedly at the hands of a 16-year-old boy who wanted her car.
After Ms White’s death Ms Carroll declared on February 7 that she would not step down and was “in it for the long haul”.
Following mounting criticism over Queensland’s youth crime crisis, the top cop also faced pressure over the standing down of Gold Coast senior sergeant Arron Ottaway, over claims he authorised the ramming of a stolen car allegedly containing youths.
The state’s most senior police, ranked inspector to chief superintendent, then told The Courier-Mail they had already been planning – weeks before the crime crisis engulfed the news cycle – to meet over the “direction” of the Queensland Police Service.
Officers had concerns the organisation was taking on too many roles outside of its core responsibility of protecting the community, such as taking on roles of the State Emergency Service, Maritime Safety Queensland, Queensland Government Air, Queensland Health responsibilities, youth justice and the Caboolture watch-house which has been transitioned to a youth detention facility.
Ms Carroll met with police minister Mark Ryan in the Qantas Chairman’s lounge on February 19 as he prepared to fly out of Brisbane to tell him she wouldn’t seek a contract extension.
In a later press conference Ms Carroll said had already made the decision to not ask for a contract renewal after speaking with her husband at the beginning of the year, but that she had planned to tell the minister at a later point.
But she said she brought her resignation forward to “clear the air” following the mounting pressure on the service.
“But what happened is obviously with this heightened speculation and chatter that I just want the air to be clear,” Ms Carroll said.
“I don’t want the distraction for the QPS. I just want people to concentrate on what we’ve done, what we’ve achieved and what we need to do.”
During a press conference Ms Carroll said frustrations over Sen Sgt Ottaway had not played any role in her decision. She was asked if she felt she had been made a scapegoat for the challenges the police service was facing.
“I don’t feel I’ve been made a scapegoat at all,” she said.
Mr Gollschewski will begin the role as acting commissioner on Saturday.
He was a deputy commissioner in the service before he was appointed special co-ordinator for police reform in November 2022, following the commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic and family violence.
He has been dubbed “Mr Fix It” by many for being brought into resolve incidents or implement reform.
Advertising for the permanent five-year commissioner role was released by the government this week, with a cut-off date of March 19 before interviews begin.
Mr Gollschewski has said he doesn’t intend to be a seat warmer in the role, or a “caretaker”, and has confirmed he will apply for the permanent position.
Other respected police officers are also waiting in the wings for the top role which pays a total package of $650,000. However no other potential candidates have publicly declared they will apply for the role and it’s unclear if they have any intention to.
Deputy Commissioners Shane Chelepy, Cameron Harsley and Cheryl Scanlon would also be considered for the top role.
Mr Chelepy is the state disaster co-ordinator and has youth crime under his portfolio and was a figurehead during the Covid pandemic; Mr Harsley is the regional services deputy and is well respected by the Crime and Corruption Commission; and Ms Scanlon is an experienced investigator who was also previously the QPS Child Safety director.
Each of the deputies has been in their role for a short time, with Ms Scanlon the latest promoted to specialist operations.
Kev Guteridge, currently acting deputy commissioner of regional operations, has experience working across the state.
Former Deputy Commissioners Bob Gee, Brett Pointing and Ross Barnett have also been mentioned as being potential candidates, having left to run their own race and gain experience outside of the Queensland Police Service.
Mr Pointing is currently in the Australian Federal Police as the Commander of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation; Mr Barnett is the director of investigations of alleged Australian war crimes; and Mr Gee is the director general of Youth Justice and was also the state disaster co-ordinator
Other potential candidates for the job would include Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz of the New South Wales SES, who was previously an Assistant Commissioner in both the Queensland Police Service and the Australian Federal Police.
Victoria Police Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway has also been named as a possible candidate, along with Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy.
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