OFFICER’S FAMILY IN FIGHT FOR CHANGE
THE family of a North Queensland police officer who never returned home from work is hoping to finally find closure if they win their fight to see his service formally honoured.
Steven Isles, son of Ayr Police Senior Sergeant Michael Isles, has launched a petition for his father to be accepted on to the Police Honour Roll after he disappeared while on duty in 2009.
A coroner ruled in 2012 he died by suicide and it was this cause of death that excluded him from the roll.
Mr Isles’ fight for change has been backed by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, who said the rules were discriminatory and stigmatised mental health issues.
There are 13 other Queensland families whose loved ones have also been excluded from the roll because their deaths were suicides.
The Queensland Ombudsman found the blanket prohibition by the Queensland Police Service was unfair.
“It pains me to think why someone who has lost their life while on duty isn’t on the roll,” Mr Dametto said.
Mr Isles said the push he took was not only for his dad, but for systemic change. Despite being hit by a “stonewall culture”, he had no plans to give up.
“My y father er gave almost 36 years serv vice to the police and we d don’t have a gravesite, no ashes – we don’t have anything to recognise my dad,” d he said. “It would mean a lot to have his name etched on the stone wall w in Brisbane.” Mr Dametto sponsored the e-petition, which he intends to table in parliament next month. It can be signed at www.parlia m ment.qld.gov.au.