Coroner urges six-monthly welfare checks after inquest into four police suicide deaths

WARNING: This story touches on themes of depression and suicide.

During last year’s hearings, the court was told how overworked officers were self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, and of significant shortfalls in welfare support — particularly in areas such as fatigue management and protocols around interactions with the Professional Standards Command.

In his findings, Coroner Cooper, acknowledged the fact that these men were all serving police officers was “only part of the whole picture” of their lives, but he said he had “no doubt” that “Sergeant Cooke‘s police service was the direct cause of his death“.

But he said the provision of welfare support and whether it was adequate was a “central consideration at the inquest.”

He called for Tasmania Police to immediately develop and implement a fatigue management policy saying it was essential it was “addressed urgently”.

The inquest heard Robert Cooke had reportedly worked “16-hour continuous shifts for four weeks” during the Central Highlands bushfires in 2019.

This had left him “exhausted and barely functioning towards the end of the third week”.

“Tasmania Police had no fatigue management policy at any time, up to and including as recently as when the evidence at the inquest was publicly taken at the end of 2022,” he said.

“The absence of any fatigue management policy was, I consider, a direct factor in Sergeant Cooke’s death.”

The coroner also recommended six-monthly screenings of all operation police officers for post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Sergeant Cooke obviously suffered from the effects of PTSD for a long time before it was diagnosed,” he said.

“Every health care professional who gave evidence … unanimously agreed that his PTSD was entirely attributable to his service as a police officer.

“Every health care professional also agreed that earlier detection of PTSD increases the chances of successful treatment and recovery.”

Tasmania Police investigating the feasibility of “introducing a points system”, whereby an officer’s exposure to severe incidents would be tracked, was also recommended.

When a “critical points threshold” was reached, an automatic referral to a psychologist should be triggered, Coroner Cooper said.

The coroner also called for better support for officers under investigation for misconduct — including ensuring that those who had their phone seized by Professional Standards be given a replacement mobile pre-programmed with well-being support numbers.

“The death of any member of the community by suicide is a tragedy,” Coroner Cooper said.

“My sincere hope is that some improvements and learnings can emerge from the deaths of Constable Hunt, Senior Sergeant Reynolds, Constable Darke and Sergeant Cooke.”

Families welcome findings

In a statement, Robert Cooke‘s mother Lyn and sister Michelle said they were satisfied with the findings, particularly the recommendations for a fatigue management policy and screenings for PTSD stress disorder.

“[Our] thoughts are with all the families involved in this inquest.”

Commissioner committed to ‘safe model of policing’

Coroner urges six-monthly welfare checks after inquest into four police suicide deaths – ABC News

Helplines:

• Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• Tasmania’s Victims of Crime Service: 1300 300 238
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978

Inquest hears Tasmania Police officer Paul Reynolds was facing child exploitation claims before suicide

Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds was 54 when he died by suicide in September 2018 in Parkham in Tasmania’s north.

He is one of four officers whose death is being investigated as part of a joint coronial inquest in the Launceston Magistrates Court.

The deaths of Constable Paul Hunt, Constable Simon Darke and Sergeant Robert Cooke will also form part of the inquiry.

All four men died by suicide between 2016 and 2020.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Cameron Lee, said Senior Sergeant Reynolds was a “highly respected police officer” but that reputation was tarnished when “shocking and despicable allegations” came to light.

On the night before his death, Senior Sergeant Reynolds was visited at his Westbury property by officers from the Professional Standards Command.

They were there to search the property after allegations he had sent and received child exploitation material, and that he had groomed young men, including members of the local Deloraine Football Club, into doing unlawful acts.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds is also alleged to have given young boys “rub downs” at the football club, been present when they were showering and during “naked ice baths.”

Police also are alleged to have found photos and sexually explicit messages on his phone sent to other male adults.

The inquest heard a senior officer had lodged a complaint the week before outlining the claims to Blue Teams —  a tool available for officers to report and make complaints about colleagues.

At the time of the search, the inquest heard Senior Sergeant Reynolds denied any wrongdoing and told his wife there was no evidence to find.

At the inquest, Mr Lee read a quote from a transcript of Senior Sergeant Reynolds during the search of his property.

“This is career destroying … what an end to a 40-year career,” Mr Lee said.

He told the inquest that “it was widely known in Deloraine that he was a paedophile“.

Paul Reynolds joined Tasmania Police in 1980.

He was one of the first on the scene at the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 and at the Beaconsfield gold mine collapse 10 years later.

The coroner was told Senior Sergeant Reynolds was diagnosed with depression in 2012.

In the same year, he was formally reprimanded for poor work performance and demoted from inspector to senior sergeant.

Welfare officer felt ‘let down’

Sergeant Fiona Smith was Tasmania Police’s welfare officer at the time.

The inquest heard she was asked to contact Senior Sergeant Reynolds the morning after the search and check on him.

She was unable to get in touch as his mobile was confiscated during the search.

“It was obviously difficult to contact him when he didn’t have a phone,” she said.

During her evidence, she said felt let down by Tasmania Police and was not offered the support she needed for her growing caseload.

When she was in the role, she said she could have more than 100 cases. The role is now split between eight people.

In regards to the management of Constable Paul Hunt, Sergeant Smith said she was not invited to be involved in his meeting with Professional Standards on the day he died.

On Monday, the inquest heard that Constable Hunt took his life on the day he had a meeting with the police professional standards team.

Sergeant Smith said she was not invited to the unannounced meeting which had been called over allegations he had been using his police badge and fake driver’s licence numbers to obtain codeine-based and pseudoephedrine-based medications from several pharmacies.

“I knew him very well, we were very good friends, he trusted me and our relationship was really good,” she said.

“I stressed to the inspector at the time that I needed to be in that meeting … it made me quite angry that I wasn’t, even just for me to be outside afterwards.

The inquest also heard Sergeant Smith was served with an official directive to not communicate with Paul Hunt’s family after his death as it could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

The inquest continues.

Remembering Paul

“Paul was the Inspector in Charge during the rescue operation at the Beaconsfield mine collapse on the 25th April 2006 where one person died and two others, Todd Russell and Brandt Webb were rescued a fortnight later. Paul received a Police Commendation for his efforts in that disaster.” – FB user

“This event (Beaconsfield mine rescue) was a defining moment in his career. His ability to adapt his leadership approach from briefing EM committees to the media conferences (where he virtually led the way for TasPol, to the sensitivities of dealing with volunteers eg. within SES was without a doubt, extraordinary. It was recognised from afar eg WAPOL who flew us over to learn from the experience. I remember the way Beau stood out the back with Bill Shorten and how he carried himself in those moments. Sharp wit mixed with tailored delivery.” – FB user

“I’ll never forget the cheeky look on his face every time I walked into the PFCP at beaccy and he’d kick you and your slow typing off the computer. Every single time. I can’t believe I’ll never see that cheeky smile again.” – FB user

“I was only a young boy growing up in the town of Savage River and PR was our local police officer, a fresh-faced young Constable. Sorry, I can’t recall the years, I was born in 77 and we left in 90. He left before we did, I believe they closed the station a few years before we left.” – FB user

“Paul ‘Beau’ Reynolds was serving at Tullah in the late 80s when I was about 14/15 years old. I was playing basketball for the Tullah men’s side as teenagers and Paul was a part of that… he taught us hardness and respect… treating us as adults… absolute champion bloke who had our respect both as a person and a police officer. RIP Beau… absolute legend!!” – FB user

“A truly wonderful gentleman whom we had only met in the last few years through football but he made such a positive impact in our son’s life and ours he certainly will be missed. RIP Paul. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and work colleagues” – FB user

“I first came across Beau having him as our basketball coach, then as a referee when I joined the Coppers. A true gentleman who treated everyone with respect. His jokes and laughter were infectious… Always made people smile.” – FB user

“So many funny and fond memories of my friend Beau from our St Brendan’s Shaw days then later in life when I happened to be at the police academy for a visit. What a great funny man who should have been beside the great comedians in Hollywood. Forever his pranks and humour will live on. The world is now less without you in it old mate” – FB user

Tasmania Police senior sergeant Paul Reynolds has died

September 15 2018, 4:30AM – Matt Maloney

We are mourning the death of Paul “Beau” Reynolds who passed away suddenly on Thursday, 13th September 2018.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds served with Tasmania Police for 38 years, including time as an inspector in Launceston. He was born in Devonport and attended Charles Sturt University.

He was most recently in charge of prosecution services in the North-West.

Commissioner Darren Hine said welfare support was being provided to his family and the wider police community.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds was elected president of the Northern Tasmania Football Association last year after serving as coach for the Longford Tigers and working with the St Patrick’s College senior team.

He was chairman of the Tasmanian Football Council.

AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said the Tasmanian State League would observe a moment of silence this weekend and players in all three grand finals would wear black armbands in his memory.

He will forever be remembered for his dedication to serving the community and as a true leader within the state’s police and football community.

Source: https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5647146/police-tsl-mourn-senior-officers-paul-reynolds-death/?cs=7669

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RIP Senior Constable Susan Olivia Bailey????

Ladies and Gents,

VALE

Senior Constable Susan Olivia Bailey 4026013.

At the time of her passing, Susan was attached to Mt Ommaney Station but prior to that, she was a long-serving member of the Fortitude Valley Police family. It has been said that Susan’s smile could light up a room…