Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has announced her resignation from the role, months before her five-year contract ends in July this year.
After significant media speculation today, Commissioner Carroll called a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, announcing her final day in the top job will be next Friday March 1.
Commissioner Carroll was Queensland’s first female police commissioner. She has led the Queensland Police Force for almost five years, following her service as the Commissioner of the Queensland Fire Emergency Service.
“This morning, I have advised the Minister that I will not seek an extension of my contract as Commissioner,” she said to reporters.
“I made this decision and was going to have the discussion about not renewing my contract with the minister in about two weeks’ time, but because of the heightened speculation and commentary, I brought these discussions forward.”
The government and the police force have faced intense public pressure over its responses to youth crime in Queensland, after a senior sergeant on the Gold Coast was fired for “doing his job”, according to the police union.
Earlier this month, Senior Sergeant Arron Ottaway allegedly authorised police officers to ram a stolen car full of six young people aged between 15 and 18.
Following the incident, police have threatened stronger industrial action, expressing their frustrations within the police force.
At the press conference today, Commissioner Carroll said she wants “the air to be clear” about the situation.
“What happened with this heightened speculation and chatter, I just want the air to be clear because it is about the organisation doing remarkable work,” she told reporters.
“I think that’s what I want. I don’t want the distraction for the QPS.
“I just want people to concentrate on what we’ve done, what we’ve achieved and what we intend to do.”
Last week, in a bid for a stronger crackdown on youth crime in Queensland, Commissioner Carroll asked the government to consider more warrantless “wand” search powers, as well as an extension of GPS ankle monitors for young offenders.
Commissioner Carroll today said youth crime is “one of the most vexed and complex issues” the police deal with.
“I want everyone to concentrate on the great work police do and to support our officers. You have, Queenslanders, the most amazing police service.”
During her time leading the police force, Commissioner Carroll witnessed many “heart-wrenching moments”, including the 2022 Wieambilla murders.
In December 2022, three shooters in the regional town of Wieambilla killed Constable Rachel McCrow, Constable Matthew Arnold and civilian Alan Dare.
Along with the on-duty death of Senior Constable Dave Masters the year before in June 2021, Commissioner Carroll said they were her darkest days.
“There were heart-wrenching moments which rocked our blue family, and I know this organisation will never forget the contributions of those fine officers,” the Commissioner said.
Queensland’s Police Minister Mark Ryan said Commissioner Carroll led the police force, dedicated to serving her community.
“You don’t just end up the commissioner of police by chance, you get there through hard work, distinction, through selfless service,” Minister Ryan said.
“Katarina Carroll has excelled and distinguished herself in the role. I am extremely grateful for her service, and I know the many Queenslanders I speak to are grateful and complimentary of her service.”
Police commissioner: a man’s job?
Commissioner Carroll entered the police academy 41 years ago, well before Australia got its first ever female police commissioner, Christine Nixon, in 2001.
Commissioner Carroll was Queensland’s first police commissioner, and she could not be prouder.
“I would not have predicted that a young woman from Far North Queensland … would make her way through the ranks to be appointed commissioner of police,” she said.
Despite leading Queensland’s emergency services for nearly a decade, Commissioner Carroll is not immune to gender bias, including from Queensland Premier Steven Miles.
Speaking to reports on the 2022 Wieambilla murders, the Premier said Commissioner Carroll “nursed” Queenslanders and police throughout the ordeal.
“I’ll never forget that funeral after those awful Wieambilla murders and the way the Commissioner was able to nurse the service, nurse all Queenslanders through the grief that followed that awful event,” the Premier said.
While some people genuinely scrutinise Commissioner Carroll’s work in the top job, it is being lost in baseless, misogynistic criticism online, with some attributing her appointment to the “woke agenda”, while others labelled her a “failed female leader in a man’s role”.
Female leadership in Queensland’s police force has never been more important, as recent data shows domestic and family violence-related homicides in Queensland have risen by 50 per cent in a year. Despite the alarming increase, over a hundred police roles specific to domestic and family violence are yet to be filled across the state.
While Commissioner Carroll did not speculate who would be replacing her, perhaps what the sunshine state needs is a strong, determined female commissioner to follow in her footsteps.