Queensland police officers exposed in DV inquiry keep their jobs as unvaccinated sacked

While no police officers exposed in the DV inquiry have been removed from the force, those refusing to get the Covid vaccine have been sacked.

The Queensland Police Service has sacked officers for not getting the Covid-19 vaccine but is yet to remove any police mentioned in the scathing domestic violence inquiry.

A QPS spokesperson confirmed eight police officers have been sacked for disobeying Covid-19 vaccination directions. A further 100 staff have been sent discipline proceedings notices.

The said police were more exposed to the risk of Covid-19 than most other professions.

“For the protection of our members and the community, it is important to ensure our staff are vaccinated against serious illness associated with Covid-19,” they said.

“The QPS continues to review its advice and conduct regular Covid-19 risk-assessments to ensure the continued health and safety of our employees.”

Countless examples of police not being properly disciplined for creepy and frightening sexual behaviour towards young female colleagues were raised in the Commission of Inquiry into police responses to domestic and family violence

Counsel assisting the inquiry Ruth O’Gorman KC detailed cases of an officer threatening rape, multiple cases of unwanted touching an officer and another who threatened to punch a superior in the “c--t”.

In one case an officer in ethical standards command – in the unit which investigates other police – pulled his penis out in front of a female colleague and placed it on her desk.

He also asked her to take photos of his penis. He was demoted and kept his job.

The inquiry was told many of the male officers who were the subject of sexual harassment allegations were dealt with by local managerial guidance where they were spoken to by a senior officer, in a system police Commissioner Katarina Carroll agreed was “broken”.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. Picture: Sarah Marshall

In one case an officer who squeezed a colleague’s leg, called her “detective sexy” and “baby” and sexually harassed her was dealt with by local managerial resolution.

In relation to badly behaved police raised in the DFV inquiry, the spokesperson said the situation was legally complex.

“The QPS is reviewing current legislation and seeking legal advice on several matters to identify what action can be taken considering the broader legal environment, industrial environment and other matters,” the spokesperson said.

Ms Carroll said she would undertake a review of some of the cases raised in the inquiry and this week signalled one officer would be given a show cause notice as to why they should stay in the job. Others were expected in coming weeks.

She said other case investigations were still ongoing and is yet to publicly clarify if she is still seeking “no confidence” powers, which would require legislative changes, after originally telling the inquiry she needed the capability.

It’s unclear how many cases are under review and what action can be taken without new information given officers have technically already been dealt with under the QPS discipline system.

At the same time, The Courier-Mail has been told multiple officers have been quietly sacked from the service for refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccination.

The vaccination was a direction by Ms Carroll during the pandemic.

Officers with more than 20 years of experience, some who have held senior positions managing other staff, have been sacked and are now looking for jobs elsewhere.

Other government agencies have removed the requirement for staff to have Covid-19 vaccinations.