Charge against Gold Coast policeman James Treanor dropped
A charge has been dropped against a policeman accused of swearing at the Gold Coast’s top cop at a police mental health breakfast. WATCH THE VIDEO
Police & Courts
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A PUBLIC nuisance charge against a Gold Coast police officer accused of an expletive-laden tirade against the Glitter Strip’s top cop at a police mental health breakfast has been dropped amid his trial.
Senior Constable James Treanor was charged over the dramatic carpark meltdown in which he yelled obscenities about Assistant Commissioner Brian Wilkins and threatened to ‘blow my brains out’.
Sen Const. Treanor, who has launched separate bullying action against senior police in the Industrial Relations Commission, had pleaded not guilty.
But police withdrew the charge after the first morning of evidence of what was to have been a two-day hearing in Southport Magistrates Court.
It came after body worn camera footage Sen Const. Treanor’s explosive rant, after he clashed with Mr Wilkins at the Black Dog breakfast at Broadbeach Bowls Club in March last year, was played to the court.
“He’s a f---ing coward, the guys a f---ing coward,” he says in the video.
“RUOK, what a load of f---en bullshit. Obviously he doesn’t give a f--- if I’m okay. That f---en c--ksmoker is a f---en coward.”
At one point Sen-Const. Treanor throws his hands in the air and asks his colleagues if they want to take his gun.
Senior-Sergeant Paul Hunter, a police negotiator who was at the breakfast, told the court that Sen Const. Treanor said: “What would he (Wilkins) do if I blew my brains out’.
“I could see that he was very upset and agitated at something that had occurred (in the bowls club). His demeanour was very angry about what had happened.
“It wasn’t a whisper, it was closer to a yell in some parts. He was clearly in crisis.”
Sen Sgt Hunter told the court that he did not believe Sen Const. Treanor’s actions were criminal.
“It was purely a welfare issue for me,” he said.
Another officer, Sergeant Dave Dixon, said he had “significant concerns” Sen Const. Treanor might draw his gun during the expletive-riddled tirade.
Mr Wilkins told the court that he was unaware of any mental health problems that Sen Const. Treanor was having.
He said the officer had emailed him prior to the breakfast requesting a meeting about employment issues but the meeting never took place.
The assistant commissioner said he organised the breakfast because he was “extremely committed” to protecting the wellbeing and mental health of all his staff.
He said about 100 police were at the breakfast and he was talking with a guest priest when Sen Const. Treanor interrupted.
“Sen Const. Treanor appeared to be quite agitated and asked me whether that included him in my (opening) comments (to the breakfast),” he said.
“I told Sen Const. Treanor that I wasn’t going to speak to him in relation to his personal matters, (that) he was being smart and to leave.”
Mr Wilkins said Sen Const. Treanor left but he later saw him being “quite animated” in the presence of Senior Sergeant Paul Hunter.
He said Sen Const. Treanor then appeared to activate his body-worn camera and walk towards the front of the bowls club.
Mr Wilkins said he later viewed body worn camera footage of Sen Const. Treanor in the bowls club car park where members of the public were present.
“In the body worn (footage) he was being extremely animated and using quite obscene and disgusting language,” Mr Wilkins said.
“He was in full uniform at the time with full accoutrements including a firearm, and was very disparaging in his remarks towards myself.”
Mr Wilkins said he initiated formal complaint action against Sen Const. Treanor and directed that his gun be secured.
“I also directed to ensure that we had some engagement with Sen Const. Treanor from a welfare perspective,” he said