Dalby police officer returns to work as Ethical Standards Command continues investigation

A country copper who was allegedly goaded into headbutting a teen after a night out on the town has returned to work despite an ongoing Ethical Standards investigation.

The Queensland Police Service has refused to comment on what – if any – disciplinary action a Dalby police officer has faced after he was caught on camera headbutting a teenage boy during a late-night altercation outside a McDonald’s restaurant.

Video of the incident in April was filmed by an onlooker and uploaded to social media, prompting an QPS Ethical Standards Command investigation.

The videos show the off-duty officer squaring up to a small group of teenagers after they yelled abuse at him in the early hours of April 16, and questioned his authority when he was without his badge.

“What badge have I got right now ----? Which one of you ----- said that?” yells the officer before being pushed.

“Punch me ---- punch me,” provokes the 14-year old before the officer questions if he wanted to walk away or not.

The Dalby police officer stood down for headbutting a teen has returned to duties.

The boy calls the officer a pig and repeatedly goads the officers into punching him.

“You’ve got three seconds to walk away or I headbutt you,” warned the officer as two of the teens continued to provoke him.

“You’re a pig, you’re nothing without the badge … push me. It’s self-defence,” the boy can be heard saying before the officer approaches him.

After standing chest-to-chest, the officer headbutted the teen and more young people moved in.

After a minute of the teen hurling abuse at the officer, uniformed police arrive and disperse the crowd.

A statement from the Queensland Police Service said the Ethical Standards Command was investigating, with the officer stood down pending the result of investigations.

Residents have since contacted The Chronicle, saying the officer is back at work, but a QPS spokeswoman declined to comment on how that investigation was progressing.

“The matter remains under investigation of the Ethical Standards Command and it would not be appropriate to provide further information at this time,” she said.