Qld Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski to go on leave after shock cancer diagnosis
The great and good of Queensland’s political and policing families have rallied behind Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski following shock news of his cancer diagnosis, offering their support to him and his family.
QLD News
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Commissioner Steve Gollschewski is taking leave from his role after a shock cancer diagnosis.
Police have been told about the diagnosis on Friday afternoon.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy will take over the role in the interim.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the commissioner would be taking immediate leave.
“Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has advised he will be taking immediate leave due to an unexpected cancer diagnosis,” the spokesman said.
“Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy will commence the role of Acting Commissioner from Saturday 1 March to ensure continuity of leadership.
“The Commissioner requests privacy at this time and appreciates the support of his colleagues and the community.”
“It is with great disappointment I have to advise you that I have commenced leave for an unknown period following an unexpected cancer diagnosis,” Mr Gollschewski wrote to police on Friday.
“I have a battle ahead of me and with the support of my family need to concentrate my energies towards my treatment.
“I know that you need a Commissioner on top of their game. To that end I’m pleased to advise Shane Chelepy will act as Commissioner during my absence. He and the Deputies will be focused on achieving our goals of better supporting all our workforce but especially our frontline to make sure that you are doing what you should be, have what you need, when and where you need it to do the work that keeps our community safe.
“I know that to make sure our community is safer and feels safer we must first get it right for our workforce, so that will remain the priority. While we have made a start there’s still so much to be done.
“The QPS Review will proceed as planned and I know the QPS leadership will remain committed to the transformational approach I have initiated. I know that our Minister and the Government are committed to making sure the QPS is properly equipped, supported and focused on doing what it should be. We have a great opportunity to set the QPS up to succeed now and into the future.
“Finally, I just want to say thank you to you all who work so hard every day to support and keep our community safe. It’s a privilege to be your Commissioner. I look forward to getting better and coming back to finish what we’ve started.
“Stay safe.”
Mr Gollschewski has worked in the police service for 45 years, having joined in 1980.
He’s a father of five and his youngest child is aged under 10.
Mr Gollschewski met his wife Bec in the police service.
Queensland Police Union President Shane Prior said Mr Gollschewski had been a determined leader and that he was confident he would approach his treatment with the “same courage and resilience that he has shown in his role” as Commissioner.
“It is with significant sadness that I acknowledge the extended leave of police Commissioner Gollschewski due to a serious health issue,” he said.
“As he steps down to focus on his treatment and recovery, on behalf of our members I extend our heartfelt best wishes to him during this challenging time.
“The police Commissioner has been a determined leader, demonstrating commitment and dedication to upholding the safety and wellbeing of our members and the community.
“His leadership although brief has been significant. I spent time with Commissioner Gollschewski at the Townsville graduation ceremony yesterday and he spoke with great passion about his own swearing in and his love of the QPS, inspiring us all to serve with integrity and diligence.
“We wish him a smooth and speedy recovery.
“I’m confident that the police Commissioner will approach his treatment with the same courage and resilience that he has shown in his role.”
Mr Gollschewski is the longest serving police officer in the Queensland Police Service. He was appointed interim acting Commissioner in February last year and was appointed as the state’s twenty-first Commissioner in April.
He took the role after the resignation of Katarina Carroll.
Dubbed “Mr Fix It”, Mr Gollschewski was a long-serving deputy commissioner in the service before he was appointed special co-ordinator for police reform in November 2022, following the commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic and family violence.
Mr Gollschewski was the face of the Queensland Police Service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He fronted the media each day to outline rules and restrictions and discuss what enforcement police had undertaken.
He led Covid-19 police operations including hotel quarantine, airport security and border security on Queensland roads.
Before he took the role of Commissioner he was the most experienced deputy commissioner, with more than a decade in the senior role.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli praised the police commissioner “for his lifetime of service” upholding the state’s laws.
“(He) has the full support of the Queensland Government following his decision to step down due to health reasons,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Commissioner Gollschewski has spent decades serving with integrity, professionalism, and Queensland is grateful for what he has achieved in the blue uniform.
“Right now, his focus must be on his health and his family – but on behalf of Queensland – I want to thank him for his outstanding contribution to the state, and wish him all the best on his journey ahead.”
Police Minister Dan Purdie wished Mr Gollschewski well.
“My thoughts are with the Commissioner, and his family during this time,” he said.
“On behalf of the Government and the community, I extend my sincerest wishes to the Commissioner for a full and speedy recovery.”
In an interview with The Courier-Mail late last year Mr Gollschewski said he wanted his legacy to be about improving the frontline, whether it be general duties, detectives or another non-policing area in the service.
“I want them to actually think yeah this guy actually gave it a crack and made a difference for us,” he said.
“Made their job a bit easier and actually valued us, appreciated what we did.
“I come from a policing family and I’m the only one that ever achieved any rank and I’ve got an obligation to the first responders that went before me to do what I can, otherwise my dad would turn in his grave.”
“And I’m not saying fix everything, I’m saying make it better,” he said.
“I’m not naive enough to think I’m going to magically fix domestic and family violence. I think our whole community needs to step into that space.”
Former Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers, who has known Mr Gollschewski over their extensive policing careers, said he was “gobsmacked”.
“I am shocked,” he said.
“I know he is a man who really concentrates on his fitness and I just hope he looks after his health and gets well because he is one of the most decent people I’ve met.
“I am gobsmacked. All I know is, he is a fitness fanatic, he looks after his health and he is one of the most active people you see around.
“So I am in as great a shock as anyone else.
“I’ll say this: he can be a hard man but he is probably one of the most decent people around and I just want him to get well for his family and his kids.
“I look forward to if he comes back (to the Commissioner role) but he’s got to put him and his family first.”
Former Police Minister Mark Ryan, who along with Steven Miles appointed Mr Gollschewski the state’s top cop last year, heaped praise on his “friend”.
“Commissioner Gollschewski is a fine police officer, an outstanding citizen, but most importantly a good human,” he said.
“I am one of the many fortunate Queenslanders who have worked closely with Commissioner Gollschewski and I am in awe of his dedication, intellect and decency.
“What a privilege it is to be able to call him my friend.
“The thoughts and prayers of my family and me are with Steve and his family.”
Mr Purdie said Deputy Commissioner Chelepy would step into the role of Acting Commissioner from March 1.
Originally published as Qld Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski to go on leave after shock cancer diagnosis
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