Gold Coast police officer Todd Miller avoids conviction for 'serious' data breach
A veteran Gold Coast policeman has been fined $3000 for accessing confidential police databases, in a move he said was to help support struggling colleagues.
An award-winning Gold Coast police officer has faced court after he unlawfully accessed confidential information after a traumatic murder scene to “offer support” to the officers involved.
Former Senior Sergeant Todd Anthony Miller, 54, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday for the misguided “breach of trust”.
The married father-of-three, who was sworn in as a police officer in 1991, pleaded guilty to seven counts of using a restricted computer without consent.
The court heard Miller had accessed confidential information on seven occasions between March and August 2024 using police database QPRIME.
He had been on leave throughout that period, but still had access to the system using his QLiTE tablet, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Jamiee-Lee Jessop explained that one instance involved Miller searching contact information of officers involved in a traumatic murder investigation because he wanted to offer his support.
“The officers in charge on that occasion had advised him that it was quite traumatic but assured him that support was now being provided … They had explained he didn’t need to reach out,” she said.
Ms Jessop said her client now recognised this had been “poor judgment” and was “deeply ashamed and profoundly embarrassed to be before the court”.
Prosecutor Aisling Kennedy submitted 120 to 180 hours of community service with a conviction recorded could be in range, considering Miller had been a “high ranking police officer” at the time.
Ms Jessop argued for a $1000 to $2000 fine instead, emphasising her client’s otherwise “exceptional character” and lack of criminal history.
References tendered to the court described Miller as an “honest, hardworking, and dependable” leader who “inspires loyalty and effort from his team”.
Ms Jessop noted he had received a Rotary Award for community service in 2023 along with an Assistant Commissioner’s Award for his assistance in assuring the conviction of the killers of Gold Coast drug dealer Daniel Thomas Dwyer.
The court heard Miller had been stood down with pay since being charged, and he would face disciplinary proceedings as a result.
Ms Jessop said he had also been subjected to “further punishment by virtue of public humiliation and embarrassment” after details of the proceedings were exposed on a Facebook group, run by an individual Miller had arrested some years ago.
The individual had been running the page since before the charges, and even held a Facebook event inviting others to “March to Miller’s place” back in 2019, she said.
Ms Jessop said the frequency of posts on the group had exacerbated since these charges came to light.
Magistrate Louise Shepherd said Miller’s conduct was “terribly serious” and a “real breach of trust”.
However, she accepted there was no allegation Miller had used any of the information he accessed for any adverse action or personal gain.
She said she was assisted by the references in recognising Miller’s “exemplary service” to the Queensland Police Service.
The court heard Miller was unlikely to return to police work. He had recently succeeded in a WorkCover claim, after he sought mental health assistance for chronic PTSD from his time working in the force.
Ms Shepherd ordered that Miller be fined $3000, and no conviction was recorded.
Originally published as Gold Coast police officer Todd Miller avoids conviction for 'serious' data breach
