Mark Carroll announces he will resign as president of the Police Association of South Australia in video message to members

The president of South Australia’s police union has made a surprise early exit from his role, with members soon to vote for a temporary replacement.

The president of the state’s police union has announced he will resign eight months out from the end of his term and in the midst of an enterprise bargaining process.

In a video circulated to members on Friday morning, Police Association of SA (PASA) president Mark Carroll said he would leave the union on July 5.

“After 27 years of full-time service to the police association, and the past 16 as president, I’m making the choice to step away – despite my love of the job, the people and the broader police labour movement,” he said.

He did not give a reason for his early departure but said he was leaving the association in a position of financial strength and with a “record of wins in enterprise bargaining and other battles”.

Mr Carroll said the current issues of retention and recruitment would be front of mind for his successor, and he would continue to work on the current enterprise bargaining process until he leaves.

A PASA spokesperson said a temporary president would be selected after a member by-election.

The position is open to any active member of the association.

The elected member would serve the remainder of the term until early next year, when another election would be held for the new four-year term.

Police Association of South Australia president Mark Carroll. Picture: Supplied

His resignation comes after he told The Advertiser last month he did not intend to renominate for president at the end of his current term, which ends in March next year.

Around that time, there had been speculation he would resign earlier after a website went live promoting current deputy president Wade Burns as “best qualified for President of the Police Association of SA”.

“No candidate is as infinitely qualified as Wade for the role of Police Association president,” it said.

But the website was hastily deleted and Mr Burns did not respond to questions about why it was removed.

PASA has been forced to defend itself against multiple legal threats over recent months.

The union, Mr Carroll and secretary Bernadette Zimmerman and the PASA are all respondents in an ongoing civil case brought by former deputy president Samantha Strange.

Mr Carroll’s lawyers have successfully argued to have the case heard in secret, and the union has not answered questions over whether members were covering the cost of legal fees.

Originally published as Mark Carroll announces he will resign as president of the Police Association of South Australia in video message to members