Senior detective whose ‘predatory’ conduct revealed in inquiry identified

The identity of a high-profile Queensland detective whose “creepy behaviour” was detailed at the Commission Of Inquiry into police responses to DV last week can be revealed.

High-profile former Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Furlong.

A SENIOR detective whose “predatory” conduct – including 80 cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault against young female officers – was detailed at a commission of inquiry last week, can be revealed as former Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Furlong.

The Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic Violence last week heard evidence about a series of police officers found to have bullied, harassed or even sexually assaulted colleagues.

One case, raised in evidence by counsel assisting the inquiry Ruth O’Gorman KC, involved a Detective Senior Sergeant who medically retired after allegations were raised about his behaviour.

She told the hearing the man was the officer-in-charge of a criminal investigation branch when his conduct was investigated by the now-defunct Task Force Juniper.

Mr Furlong, who was moved from his role as officer-in-charge of the Logan CIB in 2019, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Former Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Furlong. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

The inquiry heard the detective was found to have harassed or bullied 26 staff members and that 80 of the 84 allegations made against him were substantiated by the investigation.

His behaviour first came to light when a female senior constable made a complaint about him in 2019.

“His conduct included sexual harassment, sexual assault and predatory behaviour,” Ms O’Gorman said, when questioning Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll about the officer.

The inquiry heard much of the man’s conduct occurred during a three-year period from 2016 to 2018 but that investigators “found that his conduct went all the way back to 2002”.

“Now … not only was his conduct generally sexist and misogynistic but that he had in fact committed nine sexual assaults, one attempted sexual assault and other sexualised communications over messaging platforms,” Ms O’Gorman told the inquiry.

She said that included unwanted shoulder massages, playing with women’s hair, hugging and kissing them and putting his hands on their shoulders, arms or waists.

“All very creepy behaviour to be engaged in by a detective senior sergeant preying on young women in his unit,” Ms O’Gorman said.

Ruth O’Gorman KC outside the inquiry. Picture: Matthew Poon

The inquiry heard that in one case, he followed a young female officer into the bathroom and when she confronted him, he winked at her, laughed and said: “Don’t be like that, I thought you told me to come in here for a blow job.”

In another case, he walked past a female senior constable who was there to be interviewed by him for a position and slid his hand over her bottom, up her back and onto the bottom of her bra, the inquiry was told.

“On another occasion, this particular police officer walked up behind a female police officer under his supervision, hugged her from behind and cupped her breast,” Ms O’Gorman said.

And in yet another case, the inquiry heard he told a female officer: “F... you look so hot right now, I’d love to slam you into those cabinets, what I could do to you.”

Ms O’Gorman said many people did not report his conduct because he had implied connections with commissioned officers, creating a culture of fear among those he worked with.

She said the Juniper investigation found he had been promoted “far beyond where he should have been”.

The inquiry heard the detective did not face any consequences as a result of the investigation because he medically retired in 2019 after a period of sick leave.

Ms O’Gorman said the matter was finalised last year with the detective receiving a post-separation disciplinary declaration of dismissal.

Ms Carroll agreed the officer’s conduct over so many years was “alarming”, “completely wrong” and would have caused “long-term trauma” to the women involved.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll outside the Commission of Inquiry. Picture: John Gass

The Courier-Mail revealed in 2019 that Mr Furlong had been moved from his position as officer-in-charge of Logan CIB over allegations he had harassed female officers.

The investigation at the time involved sealing off his office as a crime scene while forensic officers used Luminol spray in a bid to uncover evidence.

In an interview with The Courier-Mail some time later, Mr Furlong said he had medically retired with PTSD and that he was “very disappointed” with the handling of the investigation into his conduct.

“It’s disappointing on a number of fronts … it precludes me from being able to address any accusations and I think it takes away from the opportunity of anybody, any complainant or any persons that have made a complaint for them to be addressed,” he said.

Mr Furlong said he was offered the opportunity to participate in an interview with investigators but by that time, he was too unwell. He denied sexually harassing or assaulting anybody.

“The damage was already done,” he said of his decision to decline the interview.

When contacted about the conduct raised in the inquiry, Mr Furlong said he was not aware of it and declined to comment.

Mr Furlong was involved in several high profile murder investigations during his time as a homicide detective, including the murder of Shandee Blackburn.

A podcast investigation into Ms Blackburn’s murder, produced by The Australian, led to an inquiry into the state-run laboratory’s testing of DNA.

Evidence presented to the commission of inquiry regarding the alleged behaviour of Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Furlong:

• Followed a female officer into a bathroom during a night shift and, when confronted by her, winked and said: “don’t be like that, I thought you told me to come in here for a blow job.”

• Walked past a female officer who was waiting to be interviewed by him for a job and slid his hand over her bottom, up her back and onto the bottom of her bra. Another man on the interview panel passed him a note that said “loose?” and he nodded.

• Walked up behind a female police officer, hugged her from behind and cupped her breast.

• Told a female officer: “F... you look so hot right now, I’d love to slam you into those cabinets, what I could do to you.”

• Told a female officer her body looked good in the clothes she was wearing before putting his hand around her waist and brushing her bottom.

• After another panel interview where a woman had applied for an administration job, said to a male colleague: “Go up and have a look at her. She has great tits and a great arse.”