New push for dad’s honour
THE SON of missing, presumed dead, Ayr Senior Sergeant Mick Isles hopes a Canadian judgment will help win his Federal Court action against Queensland’s top cop.
Former policeman Steve Isles lodged a Federal Court action against the Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart this week, almost nine years after his father signed on for a shift and never returned home.
Sen- Sgt Isles’s vehicle was found at a property near Ravenswood five days after his disappearance.
In 2012 the Queensland coroner ruled Sen- Sgt Isles died from suicide.
Mr Isles told the Bulletin he hoped an April, 2017, ruling of the Ontario Human Rights Commission which found memorial exclusion of police who lost their lives through PTSD- related suicide was “discrimination based on disability” would bolster his case.
Mr Isles said the precedent should be given weight as it was set by a fellow Commonwealth nation.
Mr Isles said he had waited until the last possible day to file, but had to on Monday to comply with time constraints and hoped his lodgement of the claim would speed up a resolution.
He said former New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione’s decision to reinstate memorial recognition of police officers lost to PTSD- related suicide also strengthened his case for his father’s memorial recognition.
“I’m extremely confident that we’ll move forward and we’ll achieve a positive outcome,” Mr Isles said.
He said his family was prepared for a full court battle but hoped the matter could be settled outside of court and recognition achieved.
Mr Isles hoped the recognition would help destigmatise mental health issues within the police force.
He felt memorial recognition of his father and other officers was a cornerstone of that destigmatisation and improving conversations about mental health.
Mr Isles said he welcomed any communication with the Premier or Commissioner Stewart directly, in a bid to resolve the matter.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the service did not currently list officers who die by suicide on the Honour Roll and as the Coroner found Snr- Sgt Isles had taken his own life he was “ineligible for listing” on the Queensland Police Service Honour Roll.
“The governing policy surrounding this issue is being considered,” the spokeswoman said.
“This will be undertaken in due course with appropriate consultation across jurisdictions.” • If you or someone you know is in need of help, call Lifeline on 131 114, visit www. lifeline. org. au/ gethelp, or call beyondblue on 1300 224 636.