All the best in your retirement Bob Atkinson, Police Commissioner Queensland
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Another of the old-school Aussie police chiefs has called it a day.
Congratulations Bob Atkinson on your imminent retirement, Bob I hope that you and your family enjoy the rest of your life in some comfort with the memories of the families you helped and the crooks you locked up.
Bob Atkinson was an old school detective, Bob was in charge of the investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of Barrie Watts and Valmae Beck over the shocking murder abduction, rape and murder of the beautiful young girl Sian Kingi at Noosa. Bob was a dedicated detective who had a tremendous empathy with victims and a real sense of right and wrong.
I'd agree with Bob's assessment about the Palm Island riots, the poor police on that Island on the day were in very real danger of imminent death. Petrol was being poured into their last refuge after the locals rioted and many of the police present were preparing for the absolute worst with einforcements a very long way away. Thank God no members were killed, I'll never forget the radio communication tapes and many bravery commendations were later issued. And it's a tragedy that the offender DOOMADGEE died in custody too.
What you see is what you get with Bob Atkinson. He walked the political line as best he could with some "interesting" police ministers. I reckon one of the world's worst jobs must be as police minister to a Labor Government that's stacking the bench of magistrates with ex legal aid and social worker types. Bob played the hand he was dealt well - even if it took him many years to refer to be allowed by the Labor government to recognise Queensland gangs, " We don't have a gang problem, they're groups of like minded individuals."
Bob, they should name a new police helicopter after you for all the drama getting one caused you! God bless you and the family and all the best in your retirement.
Palm Island riots 'worst of times' for retiring cop
- by: Sean Parnell
- From:The Australian
- October 23, 201212:00AM
Retiring Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson yesterday. Picture: AAP Source: AAP
RETIRING Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has described the drama surrounding the 2004 death in custody of a Palm Island man as his worst experience in the job.
As he prepares to leave the state's top law enforcement post after 12 years, Mr Atkinson believes the controversy that followed the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee is coming to an end.
Doomadgee was found dead in his cell after being arrested by Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley for causing a public nuisance. When an autopsy revealed broken ribs and a ruptured liver and spleen, the island erupted in riots. A series of coronial inquests and a criminal prosecution resulted in Sergeant Hurley being cleared of causing Doomadgee's death and saw the government pay the dead man's family $370,000 in damages.
Reflecting on the case, Mr Atkinson told The Australian "that is the worse thing in my term of commissioner by far".
However, Mr Atkinson was adamant the Queensland Police Service had learned to respond more effectively in such cases and said police and indigenous leaders generally had a good working relationship.
He called for greater understanding of the conditions in indigenous communities and urged governments to continue their efforts to improve quality of life and outcomes.
"Every child deserves to be healthy and have a safe environment to live in," he said.
"Beyond health and safety, the next things, clearly, in my humble view, are education and employment. That's where I think we need to go. If we can go down that path, then the disadvantage for Aboriginal people of the gross -- and it is gross -- disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system and the prison system as a result of that will reduce."
As the state government moves to review the alcohol bans in some indigenous communities, Mr Atkinson made it clear he believed alcohol management plans had been successful.
"They have clearly, clearly, reduced violence and improved the quality of life," he said.
"But I also see the argument that, ultimately, ultimately, we should be one society and it's difficult to have two sets of rules and, in the longer term, it should be the same rules for all."
After 44 years as a police officer, Mr Atkinson said it was time Australia had a more honest debate about alcohol and drugs, and what drove people to abuse those substances and, in many cases, develop mental illness and break the law.
He questioned why so many people drank with the intention of getting drunk, or believed amphetamines were a more acceptable illegal drug because they came in tablet form.