Qld Police Commissioner candidates should Katarina Carroll not renew her contract in July
Queensland’s Police Commissioner has stood down from the role, meaning her $650,000-a-year job will be up for grabs. These are some of the most likely potential successors.
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Respected senior police officers are ready to be called on to take the helm as Queensland’s next police commissioner as Katarina Carroll on Tuesday stood down from the role.
Ms Carroll’s five-year contract expires in July but she will bring to an end her five years in the role as Commissioner on March 1, more than 40 years after being sworn in as a Queensland police officer.
‘I BELIEVE IT IS TIME’: Katarina Carroll stands down as Police Commissioner
Following the announcement, a number of highly respected and talented police are waiting in the wings.
Steve Gollschewski, who was transitioned from deputy commissioner to special co-ordinator for police service reform, would be considered the most experienced in senior roles out of the candidates within the service.
Deputy Commissioners Shane Chelepy, Cameron Harsley and Cheryl Scanlon would be considered in the mix for the top role which pays $650,000 a year.
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 the roles 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 would also be considered, having left the service to run their own race.
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, along with Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy.
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