High profile support for Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway, cleared over Mermaid Waters chase with armed teens

A respected Gold Coast cop cleared over a chase with alleged armed teens earlier this year has been praised for his action as he prepares to return to the frontline. Read what was said.

Gold Coast Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway cleared over a police pursuit. Picture: Nigel Hallett

A respected veteran Gold Coast police officer stood down over a chased with alleged armed juvenile offenders has been told not to question his judgement after he was cleared over the scandal.

The nine month long investigation into District Duty Officer, Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway, over his actions in authorising officers to ram one of two stolen cars allegedly driven by the armed teens at Mermaid Waters in February, found he acted lawfully and within in police policy.

Retired Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Jim Keogh offered his support to the respected officer as he prepares to return to the front line.

“It is no surprise that an eight-month investigation into the actions of Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway during a tactical vehicle intercept in February has not only cleared him of any wrongdoing but confirmed what we all know,” Mr Keogh said.

“He is a competent, capable and highly experienced frontline operational police officer who acted – not just on that night – but always – within the confines of the law and operational policies of the Queensland Police Service.

“In his role as a District Duty Officer, Ottaway is tasked with making split second decisions in matters where the consequences couldn’t be greater, it is an unenviable role that comes with much scrutiny.”

Former Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Jim Keogh. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mr Keogh, a respected senior officer in his own right, who is credited with putting an end to outlaw motorcycle gang violence on the city’s streets in the aftermath of the notorious 2013 Broadbeach brawl, praised Snr Sgt Ottaway for his judgement during the chase on February 1.

“His actions on that night in authorising officers to ram an alleged stolen car with armed juvenile teens on-board could have saved lives,” Mr Keogh said.

“The priority for police should always be to apprehend those who pose a risk to the community regardless of trivial matters such as overtime costs. No doubt recent months have been difficult on Arron, there is no comfort in having your decisions questioned and actions scrutinised. “Hindsight will always be twenty, twenty. Don’t let this experience lead you to question your judgement, back yourself and continue to be the exemplary leader to our community and other officers.”

EARLIER

A respected veteran Gold Coast police officer stood down earlier this year after a car chase with juvenile offenders has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal investigation.

Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway will return to his role as District Duty Officer on Friday, nine months after he authorised officers to ram one of two stolen cars allegedly driven by the armed teens at Mermaid Waters.

“A detailed and protracted investigation concluded that Arron’s operational actions on the evening of February the 1st this year were lawful justified and reasonable,” Queensland Police Union (QPU) President Shane Prior told the Bulletin.

“They were also consistent with QPS policy and he will face no disciplinary action over the vehicle intercept he authorised.”

Snr Sgt Ottaway, a decorated 33-year police veteran, was suspended from duty following the incident, causing outrage and a revolt within the cops’ rank and file.

QPU President Shane Prior said the incident again highlighted the need for reform to the QPS discipline system. Picture: David Clark

“He (Ottaway) did the very best he could that evening – he should be proud of the work he did,” Mr prior said.

“An officer who was found to be lawful, justified and reasonable, acting consistent within QPS policy should not wait eight months for the outcome of that investigation.

“We really need to ask why it took that long and why the discipline system took that long to get to this position.”

Former Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who brought forward her resignation when faced with a no-confidence vote from officers over the incident, doubled down on the call to stand down Snr Sgt Ottaway as “definitely the right decision” after viewing footage from the evening.

The Queensland Police Union said the case highlights why the state’s police commissioner should not be given additional confidence powers to sack officers and also highlighted the need to address wider issue with the discipline system.

“The long and short of it is our discipline system is broken and this is a common tale amongst members within this organisation,” Mr Prior said.

“That needs major reform.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY

According to police sources, officers were tracking two stolen vehicles on the evening of February 1 which allegedly were driven by a gang of six high-risk youth offenders as young as 15 who were involved in a crime rampage which involved an attempted knifepoint carjacking.

It was reported that as officers closed in on one of the vehicles, an Audi, a senior officer from Brisbane directed them to stop as he was not authorising overtime to continue the pursuit.

Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway was the District Duty Officer on the night and allegedly told colleagues over the police radio that he was overriding the order as “we are hunting criminals”, police sources said.

He also joked he had “wrecked” four police cars “so a little overtime won’t ruin the budget” and that he would likely be stood down and “writing my memoirs from prison”.

The Audi was found dumped soon after and three teens were arrested. A knife was allegedly found in the vehicle.

The Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll claimed at the time when Sen-Sgt Ottaway was stood down that he was being investigated for the unauthorised overtime and for defying an order to stop chasing the car containing the alleged armed teens.

Sources said there was a misunderstanding by some in the police force about fast-paced operational policing.

They said that as district duty officer, Sen-Sgt Ottaway was authorised under police operating procedures to approve overtime.

A claim that has been proven to be correct by the internal Ethical Standards Command investigation.

Originally published as High profile support for Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway, cleared over Mermaid Waters chase with armed teens