Qld Police Service fail: Cops turn on their own

A female police officer and domestic violence victim was moved to another station when her colleagues believed unproven claims made by her abusive, estranged ex-husband, it can be revealed.

A female police officer and domestic violence victim was moved to another station when her colleagues believed unproven claims made by her abusive, estranged ex-husband.

The officer was also forced to undergo “professional development” as internal discipline after her ex-husband alleged she had been abusing him - claims that were made soon after she issued him with divorce papers.

The female officer successfully took out a DV order against her husband over allegations he had become mentally and physically abusive towards her and their children.

He was later convicted of breaching the order and later made unfounded complaints against her which were investigated and dismissed.

Earlier this year, as the aggrieved party, she tried to vary the five-year domestic order to allow her ex-husband to see their children.

Around the same time she also made steps to file for a divorce after separating from him.

But The Courier-Mail has been told the man then claimed his ex-partner was committing domestic violence against him.

Instead of speaking to their colleague about the allegations, local police made an application to the court, stating he was the aggrieved partner.

Police claimed the female officer was using the varied DVO to “control” her ex partner, to make him sign divorce papers on her terms, with a new order necessary to “protect” the man.

The investigating officer suggested the female officer was using the varied DVO to “control” and “coerce” her ex partner as the varied paperwork determined how much access he had to his children.

Days later a magistrate refused to make a temporary protection order on the basis there was no domestic violence demonstrated in the application.

The Queensland Police Service then moved the officer to another station and commenced a “professional development” strategy with her, as a result of the complaint.

Supporters of the female officer say they are dumbfounded by the QPS decision, given the history of her ex breaching a DV order and making unfounded complaints against her. The officer has been forced to take legal action and fight the police action in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, supported and funded by the Queensland Police Union.

Last year the Commission of Inquiry into police responses to domestic family and violence found the service was plagued with misogyny and racism and that the service, at times, misidentified victims as perpetrators.

“When police officers fail to make inquiries or gather sufficient evidence to inform their response, victim-survivors and their children may be left unprotected, and perpetrators are not held to account for their actions,” the report said.

“This also increases the likelihood of police misidentifying the person most in need of protection.”

When asked about why the service had taken action against the female officer, both in terms of the DV application and internal discipline, a QPS spokesman said: “This matter is subject of an internal investigation and at this time it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

Originally published as Qld Police Service fail: Cops turn on their own