Former Queensland police commissioner Steve Gollschewski has died, simply months after most cancers pressured him out of the highest job.
He was 67.
Performing Police Commissioner Brett Pointing paid tribute to his colleague, who died in Brisbane on Friday morning.
“All through his distinguished profession, Steve was a outstanding strategist and modern chief, disciplined in his considering, measured in his choices and guided by deeply held private values,” he mentioned.
“Steve was admired by many for his judgment, foresight and deep understanding of policing, and his impression will proceed to be felt throughout Queensland, nationally and internationally for a few years to return.
“He shall be remembered as an distinctive chief who used perception and innovation to strengthen the organisation and assist maintain the group secure.”
Gollschewski served as deputy commissioner for greater than 10 years earlier than he was appointed Queensland’s twenty first police commissioner in April 2024, after the sudden resignation of Katarina Carroll, making him one of many longest-serving senior executives within the historical past of the Queensland Police Service.
Gollschewski, a non-smoker, was recognized with stage 4 lung most cancers early final 12 months, following his shock prognosis that February.
That pressured a interval of prolonged depart, throughout which period he sought remedy.
The indicators had been optimistic.
Though remedy dramatically modified his look, Gollschewski had cause for optimism as he returned to work that September, following what seemed to be “extremely efficient” remedy towards the most cancers.
In a message to employees upon his return, Gollschewski mentioned he was decided to finish the reform agenda he had begun, expressing his dedication to strengthening the Queensland Police Service and bettering group security after a 45-year policing profession.
However his return would final about 5 months, with Gollschewski asserting in February that he would step all the way down to deal with additional remedy and restoration.
On the time, he revealed the most cancers had unfold from his lungs to his bones and different organs, saying his well being needed to take precedence after greater than 4 many years in policing.
Reflecting on his tenure as he stepped down, Gollschewski pointed to the autumn in crime sufferer numbers, together with declining misconduct complaints and officer attrition, whereas warning that the quickly rising toll of deaths and accidents linked to e-scooters and e-bikes remained a serious public security problem.
“We now have already achieved a lot and I’ve confidence that the organisation goes in the correct path,” Gollschewski mentioned at his remaining media convention as commissioner.
A profession detective and catastrophe administration specialist, Gollschewski turned a well-recognized face to Queenslanders through the COVID-19 pandemic and later served as Queensland catastrophe co-ordinator by main floods and cyclones.
He additionally led the safety operation for the 2018 Commonwealth Video games on the Gold Coast, incomes a repute as one of many state’s most skilled and revered police leaders, and was a key safety commander for the 2014 G20 summit in Brisbane.
As Queensland police commissioner, Gollschewski launched a sweeping overview of the Queensland Police Service after warning that rising demand, useful resource pressures and organisational instability had been undermining frontline policing and public confidence.
Paperwork later obtained beneath Proper to Info legal guidelines revealed his considerations about “mission creep”, workforce morale and the service’s potential to maintain tempo with altering group expectations.
The overview proceeded at the same time as Gollschewski took indefinite depart following his most cancers prognosis.
Gollschewski was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2010 and named within the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for distinguished service to regulation enforcement, counter-terrorism, and catastrophe administration.
Final week, Queensland Governor Jeannette Younger invested Gollschewski as an Officer within the Order of Australia for “distinguished service to regulation enforcement, to counter-terrorism actions, and to the group” in a non-public ceremony on the Mater Non-public Hospital.
He was survived by his spouse, Rebecca, six youngsters and 4 grandchildren.
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