Top cop to face DV inquiry for second time

Commissioner Katarina Carroll is expected to face another grilling this week after being recalled to give evidence at the inquiry into police responses to domestic violence.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll is expected to face another grilling this week after being recalled to give evidence at the commission of inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence.

Ms Carroll is expected to appear at the inquiry on Wednesday after submissions were sensationally reopened following her first round of evidence to the inquiry in August.

Faced with intense questioning of the service, Ms Carroll denied a widespread cultural problem with police. But she agreed there were issues relating to sexism, misogyny and racism.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Taylor resigned a day after the DV inquiry heard he’d referred to a gynaecologist friend as a “vagina whisperer” during a formal speech at a leadership conference in front of other senior police.

The inquiry also heard another senior officer, Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder, called out “did she shut her legs on you”, after the emcee of a separate leadership conference joked about a “rough promotional process” while referring to a cut on his face.

Both Mr Taylor and Chief Supt Rohweder were dealt with at the time with “local managerial resolution”, which involved a discussion with a more senior officer about their behaviour.

Chief Supt Rohweder is on leave and the service has said Ms Carroll is seeking legal advice about the officer.

DFV inquiry Commissioner Judge Deborah Richards said it was “necessary” to re-open submissions after current and former members contacted the inquiry following Ms Carroll’s August evidence.

The commission of inquiry then received more than 250 submissions.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll

The Courier-Mail has also confirmed the inquiry has requested all disciplinary records of the executive leadership team who are state’s most senior police.

Ms Carroll is expected to give evidence on Wednesday and Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers on Friday. It’s unclear if anyone else will be called.
The inquiry was called after a recommendation from the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

In a submission to the DV inquiry — before Ms Carroll was called to her first hearing — she said there had been evidence provided to the inquiry of “negative and concerning workplace behaviours”.

Ms Carroll said evidence had suggested a “widespread culture of misogyny, sexism and racism in the QPS, or beliefs and values that do not align with the organisational values, and our ethos of caring for victims,”

She said the term “widespread” was not easy to quantify.

“What I have seen from victims who have come forward to the Taskforce and Commission of Inquiry clearly shows me there are cultural issues in areas around the state of Queensland,” Ms Carroll wrote.

“However, the term ‘widespread’ to me implies that there are entrenched and ingrained cultural issues with all, or the majority of us in the service. I do not accept this.

“I accept that there are some people in the organisation who do not act in the manner expected, and where we identify this, we do take action. The fact that 30% of all complaints about police are generated by police, tells me that the QPS are committed to addressing inappropriate behaviour.”

The report from the inquiry is due to be completed by November 14.