OUR $1M MISSING COPS
Taxpayers pay the rent while senior police reno home and take leave
THEY are the two most senior Gold Coast police officers. One is suspended and facing criminal charges; the other is on indefinite sick leave.
Today, the Bulletin can reveal both Chief Superintendent Terry Borland and Superintendent Michelle Stenner have property portfolios, but since their appointments to the Coast in 2015 they have benefited from taxpayer-funded accommodation. One is living in a $1 million river-front shack while the other stays in a suburban governmentowned family house as their $1m canal-front home is renovated.
The subsidised property deal has riled rank-and-file officers who look for leadership as morale nosedives.
POLICE Minister Mark Ryan is being accused of not showing leadership as the morale of Gold Coast police nose dives following the arrest of top cop Michelle Stenner.
Commissioner Ian Stewart is also under the spotlight after taking leave this week as prosecutions began planning Supt Stenner’s brief appearance at the Southport Watchhouse.
Supt Stenner, 44, was arrested on Thursday morning and charged with three counts of perjury and one count of misconduct in relation to public office.
The arrest and revelations yesterday the Crime and Corruption probe would be widened to cover staff promotions, contract deals and bullying has been a blow to police morale. Coast police contacted the
Bulletin yesterday furious that the reputation of hard-working rank-and-file officers had been damaged from the Supt Stenner charges.
“No one gets help down here. They will get tarnished with this. There has not been one word of support for Gold Coast police from anyone,” an officer said.
“Everyone down here will be black-listed by the organisation. We’re sick of it.”
Opposition police spokesman Tim Mander said Mr Ryan had failed to take action and show leadership on morale and culture issues on the Glitter Strip.
“He either doesn’t take the issue seriously or has no concern about maintaining law and order for Gold Coast fam- ilies and business owners,” Mr Mander said.
“With violent crime increasing and bikies re-emerging this is the last thing we need and Mark Ryan needs to do his job and sort this out as a priority.”
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said police expected some sort of statement of support from Mr Ryan and Commissioner Stewart regarding confidence in moving forward with policing.
But Mr Langbroek doubted Mr Ryan could take an ethical lead after the recent Pullen family incident.
Gary and Leanne Pullen re- ceived an apology after they promoted the government’s new “no body, no parole” laws while the Minister knew their son Timothy’s killer had been granted provisional parole.
“There’s a problem with ethics which comes from the very top,” Mr Langbroek said.
Mr Ryan yesterday told the Bulletin he would continue to take a strong stand on ethics regarding policing.
“I take a ‘ zero tolerance’ stance against corruption and unethical practices by QPS staff. I expect our police to act with integrity and accountability at all times,” he said.
“I have been briefed by the Police Commissioner about this issue and he has assured me that measures have been put in place immediately to ensure there is no impact on policing in the Gold Coast region.
“These matters on the Gold Coast are the subject of a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation.
“While there are ongoing investigations in relation to this matter, I am unable to comment further.”
HE EITHER DOESN’T TAKE THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY OR HAS NO CONCERN ABOUT MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER FOR GOLD COAST FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS TIM MANDER