Queensland Commissioner Katarina Carroll slams ‘horrible, harmful’ police Facebook page

A ‘thorough investigation’ was launched after it was revealed a police Facebook page is littered with sexist, homophobic and racist content.

Queensland Commissioner Katarina Carroll launched a “thorough investigation” to find officers responsible for running a police Facebook page littered with sexist, homophobic and racist content.

The disturbing private social media group was revealed by a report in The Australian and includes problematic and offensive opinions such as the condemning of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Of the 3500 members of “Defend the Blue” page, the Commissioner said about half of those were current and former Queensland Police Service employees.

In an internal email, Ms Carroll warned those who actively participate in the horrific online discussions risk being sacked from the force.

“The comments circulating about fellow officers and members of parliament on a so-called closed social media group are deeply concerning, nasty, defamatory and, quite frankly, beggars belief,” the email read.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said she was furious by the content shared on social media. Picture: Liam Kidston

“There are many of you who are passive members of these groups and I would ask you to reconsider your membership as your tacit support gives them a sense of legitimacy.”

The Commissioner told 4BC on Tuesday morning the origins of the Facebook page had “good intentions” that included content about wellbeing and mental health advocacy group Beyond Blue.

But a small group had shared “very concerning” views she needed to call out.

“Horrible, racist, sexist things that are quite defamatory, harmful to us as an organisation, harmful to the community,” she told the radio station.

“Thankfully it is a minority but, having said that, a small minority can have extraordinary harm to an entire organisation.”

The Australian revealed the page was run by senior serving policemen for current and former QPS employees.

It regularly ridiculed Palaszczuk government policies and was supportive of Northern Territory policeman Zachary Rolfe, who was alleged to have shot dead an Aboriginal teenager.

According to the report, the page sells stubby coolers which declare “I Back Zach” along with the group’s motto: “We the unappreciated must do the unimaginable and see the unthinkable to protect the ungrateful.”

Ms Carroll said she has demanded those responsible for the page be exposed through an internal investigation.

“I have asked for a full investigation of what has taken place on this site, who is saying these things, who is sitting there idly by and watching it happen,” she said.

“And if it's appropriate, action will be taken.”