Queensland Police Service (QPS) Commissioner Katarina Carroll (pictured) has announced the QPS will transition to a four-Deputy Commissioner model with a new Deputy Commissioner of Regional Queensland to be permanently based in Townsville.
“As well, the far north will be divided into two smaller regions, each with its own dedicated Assistant Commissioner,” Commissioner Carroll said.
“The two new North Queensland regions will be administered from Cairns and Townsville respectively.”
She said the newly-established Deputy Commissioner role would be responsible for policing across all of regional Queensland.
“In effect, Townsville becomes police headquarters for regional Queensland, while the existing Deputy Commissioner for Regional Operations will remain in Brisbane and be responsible for Southern Queensland,” Commissioner Carroll said.
The Deputy Commissioner allocation under the new model will be: Regional Queensland (located in Townsville), Paul Taylor; Southern Queensland (located in Brisbane), Steve Gollschewski; Crime, Counter Terrorism and Specialist Operations, Tracy Linford; and Strategy and Corporate Services, Doug Smith.
Commissioner Carroll said the four-Deputy Commissioner model was crucial to helping the QPS better understand the different policing challenges and opportunities that would be faced both now and in the future.
“The introduction of regional and southern Queensland Deputy Commissioners will help strengthen important partnerships with Government Agencies, non-Government organisations and community groups to ultimately prevent crime and enhance community safety,” Commissioner Carroll said.
She said consideration was also being given to creating a new region encompassing the Sunshine Coast and some neighbouring areas.
