New top cop’s drastic move as police tensions rise over ‘faceless cohort’ undermining colleagues

One of the Gold Coast’s top cops has taken aim at a “small faceless cohort” of officers he says are undermining colleagues by leaking “false and derogatory” information, triggering swift response from the acting commissioner.

Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway.

Incoming Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski will head to the Gold Coast next week to personally intervene in escalating tensions between frontline officers and senior police, sparked by the standing down of Senior-Sergeant Arron Ottaway.

It comes as one of the Coast’s top cops took aim at a “small faceless cohort” of officers he says are undermining colleagues by leaking “false and derogatory” information about Sergeant Ottaway’s standing down to the media.

In a lengthy email to staff this week, Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles slammed the leaks as “extremely disappointing” and launched a passionate defence of senior officers amid claims they were disconnected from the frontline.

It followed media reports of widespread rank-and-file unrest, especially on the Gold Coast, which helped trigger the bombshell resignation of Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who finished on Friday after opting not to seek a contract extension.

Mr Gollschewski plans to visit the Coast in his first week as acting commissioner but said he “fully supports” Ms Carroll’s parting comments that standing down Sergeant Ottaway was “definitely the right decision”

Queensland Police Acting Commissioner Steve Gollschewski. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I have already arranged to go down there (to the Gold Coast) taking briefs, getting across things, I fully support what Katarina has already said in the media about that,” he said.

“We have plenty more work to do there and I am making it a priority.”

Sergeant Ottaway, a decorated 33-year police veteran, was stood down last month after allegedly authorising colleagues to ram what they believed to be a stolen car containing armed teen offenders.

The disciplinary action angered many frontline cops, with revelations this week that Sergeant Ottaway had defied a senior officer’s order to stop hunting an alleged second stolen car linked to the incident because overtime had not been authorised.

Superintendent Miles told staff that there had been numerous newspaper and TV stories about the standing-down and the leaks had to stop. “The standing down of Senior-­Sergeant Ottaway relates to a number of serious allegations which are being investigated by detectives from the Ethical Standards Command,” he wrote in the email.

“This is where the matter should remain – internally with independent investigators to make a call if any further action is required.

“It is extremely disappointing to continually see yet another story pop up relating to this incident. Even more disappointing is knowing details of this internal matter are being drip fed to the media by those with their own motives and agendas.”

Superintendent Miles said some of the media stories contained “false and derogatory” comments about officers and there had been a lack of balance, but acknowledged police would not provide specific comment on disciplinary matters.

He said a “nameless police source” quoted in the media had praised Sergeant Ottaway while “degrading the ability” of colleagues who provided “professional tactical advice in dangerous, high-risk situations”.

Stood-down cop Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway out jogging on the Gold Coast after facing disciplinary action over a police pursuit. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“Their advice goes a long way in ensuring no one gets hurt (offender, member of the public or you), no officers find themselves in Coroners Court or as a defendant in criminal proceedings (potentially no job, no entitlements or no freedom) and our organisational reputation is not damaged,” he wrote.

Superintendent Miles said “completely inappropriate” memes circulating among police about the Ottaway situation were “an attempt to drive a wedge between senior management and the rest of the district”.

“I can ‘hand on heart’ say the Commissioned Officer group are extremely committed to you and our community,” he told officers.

“Not one Commissioned Officer comes to work to try and make the job harder for those they are entrusted with to serve. We are not disconnected or misogynistic as has been incorrectly reported.

“We are here to help and navigate the district through a particularly difficult time.

“It is not a ‘them and us’. We are all Gold Coast officers ­trying to do the best for those we work with and our ­community.”

Superintendent Miles said that policing was complex, those on the frontline were under “constant scrutiny” and they should be proud of their work.

Originally published as New top cop’s drastic move as police tensions rise over ‘faceless cohort’ undermining colleagues