Had to change
The situation in the Queensland Police Service leadership was untenable
Somebody had to go. Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll announced on Tuesday that she would not serve another term in the top job and would stand down as commissioner next Friday.
Flanked by Premier Steven Miles and Police Minister Mark Ryan, she told a media conference that she had been considering her future already for some time but had brought forward the decision because of ongoing speculation.
Everyone said the right thing, with Mr Miles paying tribute to her leadership, as did Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
Mr Ryan said history would be kind to Ms Carroll’s tenure at the top of the police service.
But the honest answer is that Ms Carroll had been under significant pressure for months over the state of crime in Queensland.
Her departure, the end of a career which began 41 years ago, opens the door to the next generation of leadership in the force at a critical time when rampant youth crime is front page news.
There’s also been an open revolt from the rank and file after a senior
Gold Coast police officer was stood down following a claim he helped catch armed offenders by authorising cops to ram a stolen car on the Glitter Strip.
Assistant Commissioner Kevin Guteridge met senior officers at Pimpama Station on Monday after unrest on the Gold Coast among staff in the past week.
Mr Guteridge denied the meeting was for crisis talks and said it was a “great opportunity” to discuss issues facing the Gold Coast region.
Hardly inspiring stuff. These issues put Ms Carroll in an untenable position and meant she would fall on her sword.
Now attention must turn to who will take the job and how they intend to deal with curbing youth crime and restoring the relationship with rank-and-file officers.
It won’t be easy but the existing situation could not go on as it had.
The new top cop will be under significant pressure to perform immediately and get results.
Even if the results take time, being seen to be doing something and addressing concerns will go a long way to boosting morale and ensuring things do not get worse.
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