‘Vagina whisperer’: Two top cops behind lewd comments revealed

One of the two senior police officers involved in making lewd comments has resigned, while the second has been identified. READ THE FULL STATEMENT

Deputy Commissioner Paul Taylor has sensationally resigned after a Commission of Inquiry heard he’d made a lewd and inappropriate comment while giving a speech at a leadership conference.

Mr Taylor was one of two senior officers identified after making lewd and inappropriate comments at police leadership conferences – used as examples of bad police culture at the Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence. The second was Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder.

READ HIS FULLSTATEMENT BELOW

The two incidents were revealed yesterday as Commissioner Katarina Carroll was grilled on the stand about whether her service has a culture of sexism, racism and misogyny.

The incident, in which Mr Taylor referred to his gynaecologist friend as a “vagina whisperer”, was dealt with by managerial guidance at the time but was raised in the Commission of Inquiry into Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence as an example of bad police culture.

Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Taylor arriving at Cairns airport from Brisbane on Friday. Picture: Brian Cassey

During the speech, Mr Taylor referred to his friend, a gynaecologist, as a “vagina whisperer”.

“To put that in context, the effect of what he was saying was that, if his friend, who presumably was a male is a ‘vagina whisperer’, then ‘vaginas’ are women or women are ‘vaginas’?,” counsel assisting the inquiry Ruth O’Gorman asked Ms Carroll.

Ms Carroll responded: “No, he used that in the context that his friend is a gynaecologist and obstetrician. And a world expert in dealing with these issues, particularly in Africa. And the conference was about leadership and the leadership of this gynaecologist and obstetrician. And I don’t know how it was mentioned in the speech. But the person is a friend of the deputy and he himself and I believe the circles he operates within, call him that.”

Ms O’Gorman responded: “But that doesn’t make it okay does it?”

Ms Carroll responded: “No it doesn’t, I was just giving you context.”

Inquiry Commissioner Judge Deborah Richards said: “It’s hard to imagine it was necessary in any speech to use that term.”

Deputy Commissioner Paul Taylor. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Mr Taylor was dealt with by “local managerial resolution” and told not to use inappropriate language again in a formal setting. He was personally counselled by Ms Carroll, the inquiry heard.

“He was under no illusion of what I thought about it,” Ms Carroll said.

In an email to his colleagues on Friday, Mr Taylor wrote: “Yesterday, an incident I was involved in at a conference, was brought to the attention of the Commission of Inquiry into QPS responses to domestic and family violence.

“I am devastated about the impact this has had on the reputation of the service, because it does not reflect my values, nor those of the organisation.

“It was never my intention to offend anyone, and I am deeply apologetic for the harm it has caused.

“I was remorseful immediately after the incident, and the Commissioner addressed the issue with me soon after.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was grilled at the domestic violence inquiry. Picture: Liam Kidston

At a different conference, also this year, the inquiry heard Chief Supt Rohweder had yelled an inappropriate comment at the event’s master of ceremonies.

“It’s a conference attended by the very most senior leaders of the QPS, isn’t it?” Ms O’Gorman asked the police commissioner.

“Now what we’ve been told is that the master of ceremonies at that conference had a visible injury to his face, a cut, that had required some stitches and as he was talking to the audience, he made reference to the stitches to his face and made reference to it having been a ‘rough promotional process’,” she said.

“A superintendent in the audience called out ‘did she shut her legs on you?’”

Ms Carroll, who was not at the conference, said: “Yes, I’m advised that’s the case, yes.”

Ms Carroll went on to say, “I think there’s some contention whether the words ‘she’ were used from what I am advised from him through the leaders in the organisation”.

Ms O’Gorman said the Police Commissioner had been sent questions in writing prior to her evidence yesterday and she had advised the comment was accurate.

“Yes, but late yesterday (Wednesday), I spoke to the deputy involved and I understand she was informed there was contention whether the word ‘she’ was used, but when I made the statement, yes, that’s correct,” Ms Carroll said.

Ms O’Gorman said it was unlikely the officer said ‘he’.

“Well, can I suggest to you that it’s not the case that the words ‘he shut her legs on you’ were used or something like that, it was most definitely a reference to a woman,” she said.

Inquiry Commissioner Judge Deborah Richards, said: “What other possible word could have been used? It couldn’t have been ‘he’, could it?”

“I totally agree,” Ms Carroll responded.

“Thank you,” Ms Richards said.

“I’m just relaying what was said to me,” Ms Carroll said.

Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder allegedly called out ‘did she shut her legs on you?’ at a conference. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Ms O’Gorman said the joke implied the male police officer with the cut on his face, who’d made a joke about the “rough promotional process”, had been promoted by performing “cunnilingus” on a more senior female officer.

“That’s definitely what it implies, yes,” Ms Carroll said.

“If that’s the case, it’s not only not funny, but extremely serious,” Ms O’Gorman said, adding that members of the audience had got up and walked out after the comment was made.

Chief Supt Rohweder, who was a superintendent at the time, was promoted following the incident.

He was also given local managerial guidance, which is not held against police who put in for promotions.

Ms Carroll agreed she did not send out an email to attendees afterwards publicly “rebuking” the behaviour.

Ms O’Gorman said the failure to send such an email suggested “that sort of conduct was OK”.

Ms Carroll said “in hindsight”, an email should have been sent.

Ms Richards said: “Can I just ask something about those two conferences – does that speak to you about the culture of the police that people are comfortable enough to use that sort of derogatory language in a semipublic space?”

Ms Carroll responded: “I’ve been in this role for three years now. That has never occurred or reported to me ever in the previous years I’ve been in this role.”

Ms Richards said: “So it’s worsening culture?”

Ms Carroll responded: “It’s happened twice now this year. So to say that I was upset and appalled, having regard to the reform work we are doing, is probably an understatement.”

Chief Supt Rohweder has been contacted for comment via the Queensland Police Service.

IN FULL: DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PAUL TAYLOR’S STATEMENT AS HE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

“I have been a dedicated member of the organisation for 45 years and cherished my time serving the community.

“Yesterday, an incident I was involved in at a conference was brought to the attention of the Commission of Inquiry into QPS responses to domestic and family violence. I am devastated about the impact this has had on the reputation of the Service, because it does not reflect my values, nor those of the organisation.

“It was never my intention to offend anyone, and I am deeply apologetic for the harm it has caused. I was remorseful immediately after the incident, and the Commissioner addressed the matter with me soon after.

“In the past two to three years, the Service has undergone an incredible amount of change to enhance our culture, processes and how we deliver services. The public should have confidence that this is a great organisation, with terrific people who care so much about the community across the vast state.

“I have given my heart and soul to the QPS and I will forever be proud of what I have achieved in my career.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues, particularly in north and regional Queensland, who have supported me in my role as Deputy Commissioner. I am extremely grateful to have worked with you all, and I know you will continue to do a fantastic job keeping Queenslanders safe.”