Police review rules for body-worn cameras for specialist officers

The use of body-worn cameras by specialist police will be put under the microscope following the shooting death of a far north Queensland man.

Specialist police who shot and killed a North Queensland man will be put under the microscope about whether they should be wearing body-worn cameras.

It comes after it was revealed Specialist Emergency Response Team officers were not wearing any cameras when they shot Mareeba man Aubrey Donahue, 27, on March 25.

Aubrey Donahue was shot by police responding to an incident at a home at Love St, Mareeba. Picture: Peter Carruthers

SERT officers were among multiple police units called to a Love St house after reports of a domestic violence incident where a man was holding a woman hostage.

Police allege Mr Donahue advanced on SERT officers while holding a knife when he was shot, but none of the encounter was captured on video.

Queensland Police Regional Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler confirmed the officers were not wearing cameras and revealed that arrangement was now under review.

“We’re reviewing those arrangements at the moment and no doubt that will form a part of the coronial inquest and the coroner will undoubtedly make potentially some findings on why that was,” Mr Wheeler said.

Aubrey Donahue died after being shot by police.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler.

“We’re now reviewing those arrangements for specialist police in terms of body worn cameras.”

Mr Wheeler said specialist officers did not routinely wear body worn cameras for “practicality reasons”, including that regular cameras were not covert enough.

“So the cameras that our general duties officers wear are probably not fit for purpose for the types of duties that they (SERT) will perform.

“Fundamentally it would be better that they carry body worn cameras, they’ve just got to be the right type.

“We don't want to expose our police to danger or, just as important, members of the public.”

Body-worn footage from other officers outside the house has been obtained by police.

Mr Wheeler said the outcome of their review could be finalised before the end of a coronial inquiry.

“When we have a serious police-related incident we can review it immediately and we can make changes prior to any coronial inquest finding, and of course we will always work with the coroner.”

Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan at a community meeting sparked because of the shooting. Picture: Brendan Radke

Tensions rose in Mareeba this week when an angry crowd of up to 300 people gathered at the court building and chanted anti-police slogans.

Mr Donahue’s family have claimed he wasn’t holding a knife when he was shot.

The crowd waved signs that read “stop killing us” and “black lives matter” and slammed fists into road signs and threw bottles at police stationed along the route.

Police have promised a full and independent investigation into the shooting, which is being conducted by the Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner, with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission.