‘The hypocrisy is just unbelievable’: Senior cop slams force’s handling of pedophilia scandal

“We don’t want this to be our own James Griffin story, but it is”: A senior Tasmania Police officer has broken his silence and slammed the force’s “hypocrisy” amid a pedophilia scandal.

Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds was demoted from the role of Inspector in 2012, and died by suicide in 2018 amid pedophilia allegations.

A furious senior Tasmania Police officer has broken their silence in the wake of the Paul Reynolds pedophilia scandal, slamming the force’s “hypocrisy”.

The officer, who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said their colleagues now felt misled – having been encouraged to attend Senior Sergeant Reynolds’ massive police funeral.

Their comments come after the Mercury reported last week that according to the child sexual abuse commission of inquiry final report, Tasmania Police had been aware of pedophilia allegations against Senior Sergeant Reynolds for an entire decade before it buried him with a full police funeral, with a guard of honour.

The officer said members were currently in “shock” to read the inquiry found the force had known about allegations dating back as far as 2008, before Senior Sergeant Reynolds died by suicide in 2018 while being investigated.

The officer said their colleagues had lost trust in the force, and were “embarrassed” at having attended the huge send-off – given they’d spent “years targeting and trying to convict people for the behaviours he was involved in”.

Inspector Paul Reynolds of Tasmania Police.

They said immediately after his suicide, a police leader issued a “glowing” message via police’s internal website, describing Senior Sergeant Reynolds as a “very experienced police officer, a well-known and well-respected officer, and loved by everyone”.

“I guess in some regards, that was true, because people didn’t know what he’d been up to,” the officer said.

“But he extolled his virtues. He pretty much put him up on a pedestal.”

The officer was furious now-retired and then Deputy Commissioner Darren Hine – who had written to two Inspectors about the original 2008 allegation, but was told there had been a “misinterpretation” – went on to give an eulogy at Senior Sergeant Reynolds’ funeral.

“(Reynolds was given) a full police funeral with a guard of honour, which should be reserved for people who had a meritorious career – and that Commissioner allowed all that, knowing what (allegations had been made),” the officer said.

Beaconsfield Mine Disaster, from left Inspector Paul Reynolds and West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther at the Beaconsfield Mine

The officer said one of their friends had been allegedly groomed and “groped” by Senior Sergeant Reynolds as a youth.

“I just look at it now and think how he must have felt standing there and watching all of these people give him a guard of honour – really reserved for the best of people in the most tragic of circumstances,” they said.

“The amount of hypocrisy is just unbelievable.”

The officer said their colleagues were “confused” by a “conflicted” Tasmania Police.

They said the force was trying to send a message of supporting victim-survivors, in the wake of the commission of inquiry, while also trying to avoid scrutiny.

The officer likened the story of Senior Sergeant Reynolds to that of Launceston General Hospital children’s nurse and serial pedophile, James Geoffrey Griffin – who died by suicide after he was finally charged for child sexual abuse, following decades’ worth of red flags.

“We don’t want this to be our own James Griffin story, but it is,” the officer said.

“In 2008, (Tasmania Police) clearly had an opportunity to stop Reynolds. How many people did he victimise in that 10 years?

“The reality is, like Griffin, they thought because Reynolds was dead, this would all disappear.”

Police Inspector Paul Reynolds.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has called on the state government to immediately announce a “standalone and entirely independent” investigation into Tasmania Police’s handling of allegations against Senior Sergeant Reynolds, conducted “by a senior judicial figure from interstate” with full powers.

Dr Woodruff said the investigation also needed to examine whether Reynolds had any influence over the police response into complaints against him.

It’s not suggested former Commissioner Hine had any influence over the police investigation into Reynolds.

Commissioner Donna Adams said Tasmania Police was continuing to consider the commission of inquiry report, including the Reynolds matter.

“As I have said before, the decision to hold a police funeral for Paul Reynolds was a mistake, and I sincerely apologise to anyone who is aggrieved by that decision,” she said in a statement.

“It is critical that we learn from our past failings and do whatever we can to ensure such serious allegations against a police officer are appropriately investigated.”

She said the force was finalising work regarding an independent review, and would soon provide an update.

Police Minister Felix Ellis said the commission of inquiry findings about Reynolds had been “sickening and disturbing”.

“We have been clear we will take strong action in response to the commission of inquiry. We will have more to say on the Paul Reynolds matter soon,” he said.

“The Tasmanian government is committed to supporting victim-survivors and holding criminal behaviour to account, particularly within our police force.”

The Mercury has attempted to make contact with Mr Hine for comment.

Follow @ambervwilson