Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers says Commissioner Katarina Carroll was unfairly treated by senior officers

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was unfairly treated “because she is a woman”, the head of state’s police union has claimed.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has claimed outgoing Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was “taken advantage of” by some senior officers because she is a woman.

Ms Carroll announced on Tuesday she would be quitting her role as the state’s top cop on March 1, after nearly five years in the top job.

Mr Leavers said her efforts during her tenure were commendable and she had “given her all” throughout her 41-year career in the police force.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll will leave her job early on March 1. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

The 20th Police Commissioner decided to leave her job early after talk of a revolt from senior officers on the Gold Coast, reportedly as a result of how the QPS responds to youth crime.

“Perhaps if she was a man, she wouldn’t get the attention from these other senior police who won’t do their job,” Mr Leavers told Channel 9 on Wednesday.

“Because she’s a woman they’re treating her with an absolute contempt and I think that’s absolutely unfair on her part.

“Whoever is the commissioner of police has the ultimate authority and (those officers) need to do their job and do as they are told, like every other police officer in the state.

“There is a disconnect between senior management and the frontline police.”

Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers says outgoing Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was treated unfairly in her final months in the job. Picture David Clark NCA/NewsWire

Mr Leavers some officers had “just taken advantage” of Ms Carroll during her time as their boss.

“She is a very good-natured woman, she is a very caring woman and I just think they’ve just taken advantage of it,” Mr Leavers said.

“In previous times I don’t think they would have had the open hostility towards her and they would have performed their role as they should.”

He said he didn’t believe sexism was entrenched in the service, but said some senior officers needed “to get a grip” and start “doing their job as they are told to” and reconnect with frontline officers.

“Because the frontline are the ones who are keeping Queenslanders safe as much as we possibly can with the restraints we have at times.”

Ms Carroll confirmed on Tuesday that she had brought forward the meeting to discuss her contract renewal, which was due to expire in July, by two weeks.

She said her decision to do so was to prevent her leadership being a “distraction” after facing increasing pressure to resign after a Gold Coast police officer was stood down this month.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says she didn’t want her position to be a ‘distraction’. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

The officer had been stood down from his duties after he claimed he helped catch armed offenders by authorising officers to ram a stolen car on the Gold Coast.

The decision had led many police officers to threaten to walk off the job in support of their colleague, who they claim was just trying to keep the community safe.

“What happened with this heightened speculation and chatter, I just want the air to be clear because it is about the organisation doing remarkable work,” she said.

“I think that’s what I want. I don’t want the distraction for the QPS.

“I just want people to concentrate on what we’ve done, what we’ve achieved and what we intend to do.”

Originally published as Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers says Commissioner Katarina Carroll was unfairly treated by senior officers