Latest news with #ShaneChelepy
7NEWS
22-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Police officer under investigation over Facebook comment on domestic violence rally
A Gold Coast police officer is being investigated over an alleged social media comment insulting women who were protesting against domestic violence. It came after The Gold Coast Bulletin reported on the May 11 rally at Broadbeach as part of a National Day of Action to support domestic violence victims. The report on the outlet's Facebook page showed women holding signs which read: 'We are the voices of the women who no longer have one' and 'Walking home shouldn't be a death sentence'. A comment on the report, from a Facebook account allegedly linked to the officer, said: 'All I see is a lot of women sitting around ... and a lot of sandwiches NOT getting made.' The comment has since been deleted. Queensland Police Service said both the comment and the officer who allegedly made it are being investigated. 'The Queensland Police Service is aware of this matter which is subject to internal investigation, it would be inappropriate to provide further comment at this stage,' QPS said. Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said the alleged comment was 'disappointing'. 'That's not the professional standards I expect, it's not the attitudes I expect,' he said. 'We work hard every single day of the week keeping our victims, victim survivors, safe in domestic and family violence incidents. We expect professional behaviour.' On Thursday, Sunrise reporter Georgia Costi spoke about the incident. 'It's the type of thing that just isn't really socially acceptable to say, especially if you are in the position of someone like a police officer who is held to a higher standard,' Costi said. 'As you can imagine, this has caused a lot of outrage. 'The acting commissioner is aware of the comment and he says there is an internal investigation underway. 'But all of this does come only a few years after a really scathing review was handed down about the way police officers here in Queensland handled family and domestic violence cases. 'It found there is a long history of misogyny, so this is just not a very good look for our police on the Gold Coast.' An Inquiry into Queensland police responses to domestic violence heard 1,676 complaints of sexist, racist, misogynistic and homophobic behaviour were made against officers from 2020 to 2022.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘People don't vanish': Update on ‘suspicious' disappearance of teen
Police have issued a fresh plea for public assistance, a week on from the last known sighting of Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop. Phoebe Bishop, 17, was last seen at Airport Dr in Bundaberg around 8.30am on May 15. She did not check-in for a booked flight and has not been seen or heard from since. Her disappearance is being treated as suspicious. Police on Thursday revealed that no one is currently in custody in relation to the disappearance the teenager. A Gin Gin property where Ms Bishop had been living with two other people was remains an active crime scene, as well as a seized grey Hyundai ix35. Police are also appealing to the public for dashcam and CCTV footage of the grey Hyundai ix35 with Queensland registration 414EW3 near the Airport Drive and Samuels Road area in Bundaberg and also the Gin Gin area on May 15. Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said public information will be vital to forwarding this investigation. 'You may have the small piece of information that leads us to finding Pheobe,' he said. 'People don't vanish – someone knows something and we're urging anyone with information to contact police immediately.' Act. Insp Thompson said police were told Ms Bishop was dropped off at the airport by 'associates'. 'We're still working together to piece together her movements on that day,' he said. Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said police hold 'real concerns' for Ms Bishop's welfare and also pleaded for anyone with information to come forward. 'We've got real concerns, Ms Bishop's been now missing for seven days and we'll now treat her as a missing person [that is] suspicious,' Act. Commissioner Chelepy said on the 4BC Breakfast Show. 'If any of the public have seen that vehicle and its movement or seen Pheobe in that time, we really do urgently need them to contact Crimestoppers or Policelink today.' Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson, who has been pleading for public assistance since her daughter first disappeared, wrote a heartfelt message to the missing teenager on Thursday. 'Phee is still missing our heartache and pain is raw and real,' she wrote on Facebook. 'We as a family are trying to hang onto the light of life that is our Free Spirited Gypsy Soul Phee Phee. 'Phee we need you home, we need to hear your sassy voice and feel your hugs.'
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Queensland Police detective under fire as Australians demand resignation over alleged sexist facebook comment
Australians are calling for a Queensland detective to step down during an investigation into whether he made a sexist comment on a Facebook post. A photo of two young women holding signs at a rally was posted by Gold Coast Bulletin on May 11, covering a Broadbeach gathering for the national day of action in support of domestic violence victims. Among the dozens of comments, one said: 'All I see is a lot of women sitting a lot of sandwiches NOT getting made.' One user slammed the commenter, saying: 'You think this is a joke flogga? I'm embarrassed that you identify as a man.' The initial account said: 'Poor sensitive little snowflake. Do you need a tissue or someone to ring your mommy for you? 'Give her a minute to answer, she's still making my sandwich.' The comment has since been deleted, but multiple police sources told the Bulletin the Facebook account is connected to a serving, male, Gold Coast police officer. A spokesperson for Queensland Police Service (QPS) has said it was 'aware of this matter, which is subject to internal investigation'. It has not been confirmed whether the officer has been stood down, but the detective's colleagues said he remains on duty. Daily Mail Australia has contacted QPS for comment. Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said the comments were 'extremely disappointing'. 'That's not the professional standards I expect. It's not the attitudes I expect.' 'We work hard every single day of the week keeping our victims, victim survivors, safe in domestic and family violence incidents. We expect professional behavior.' Domestic violence survivor and founder of What Were You Wearing founder, Sarah Williams said QPS should have taken action. 'The detective should have immediately been stood down pending the investigation,' she said. 'I was pretty appalled by how misogynistic and how dehumanising the comment was.' The comment, which has since been deleted, has been slammed as sexist by survivors of domestic abuse 'It literally reinforces outdated sexist ideas that women belong in the kitchen and quite often that language is used to silence and belittle women who speak out,' she said. 'It goes to show that there's still a desperate need for change in the culture of the Queensland Police Service.' A 2022 inquiry into Queensland police responses to Domestic Violence heard that 1,676 complaints of sexist, racist, misogynistic and homophobic behaviour were made against officers from 2020 to 2022. The conclusions of the inquiry suggested the establishment of an independent Police Integrity Unit (PIU) be established by early 2024 to prevent police investigating police. However, it has yet to be implemented by the state government.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Wild moment cranky cop hurls a speed radar at a P-plater driver's car
Dashcam has emerged of a police officer losing his cool at a P-plater travelling through a school zone. The cop was conducting random checks on Nicklin Way at Bokarina on Queensland 's Sunshine Coast on Tuesday when a black BMW 528i sedan failed to comply with his requests to pull over. Footage showed the vehicle accelerating towards the officer before swerving at the last moment and continuing down the road without stopping. The frustrated cop threw a speed radar device at the car, which shattered on impact. A Warana man, 18 has since been fined. 'A man has been issued three traffic Infringement Notices following a dangerous driving incident in Bokarina on Tuesday afternoon,' a police spokesperson said. 'Including one for exceeding the speed limit in a school zone by more than 20km/h but not more than 30km/h, careless driving, and failing to stop for a prescribed purpose without reasonable excuse.' The spokesperson also confirmed that the officer was formally reprimanded regarding his actions. Queensland's top cop, Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy came to the officer's defence. 'OK, I obviously expect professionalism of our staff, but, you know, we get frustrated,' Commissioner Chelepy said. 'That officer works hard, on the road, every single day trying to keep Queenslanders safe. 'Just now we've seen over 100 people die on our roadways this year. 'The police are out there every single day dealing with just reckless, stupid behaviour on our roads.' Commissioner Chepley admitted that he wished the officer had responded differently. 'Obviously, we'll have a chat with the officer but I commend him for the work he does every single day on the street,' he said. The dramatic footage has gone viral on social media, with users commenting on the officer's reaction. Some noted his 'great arm,' while others sympathised, saying that it seemed the officer had been having a rough day. Queensland recorded 301 road deaths last year, the highest toll since 2009. So far this year, the state has already seen 100 fatalities, with a noticeable shift in the concentration of deaths occurring in the urban south-east.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Commissioner thanks police officer who threw a speed radar at a car
Acting Queensland Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy will not criticise an officer who was filmed throwing a mobile speed radar at a car being driven recklessly on the Sunshine Coast. After video of the incident was distributed on Tuesday, Chelepy was at an unrelated media conference with Premier David Crisafulli when he was asked to comment on the officer's actions. 'OK, I obviously expect professionalism of our staff, but, you know, we get frustrated,' Chelepy said on Wednesday. 'That officer works hard, on the road, every single day trying to keep Queenslanders safe. 'Just now we've seen over 100 people die on our roadways this year. 'The police are out there every single day dealing with just reckless, stupid behaviour on our roads.' Chelepy said he would have liked the officer to show more professionalism but understood if he was frustrated, particularly when police were so often required to advise families of the death of a loved one. 'Obviously, we'll have a chat with the officer but I commend him for the work he does every single day on the street,' he said. Last year's Queensland road toll of 301 was the highest since 2009, and the 100 fatalities this year to date are on a similar trajectory, albeit with a greater proportion of deaths in the urban south-east.
