Former Queensland Police commissioner Steve Gollschewski has died aged 67 after a battle with cancer.
Mr Gollschewski served with Queensland Police for more than 46 years and was commissioner from April 2024 until his retirement in February this year.
Acting commissioner Brett Pointing said Mr Gollschewski would be remembered for his leadership, judgement and commitment to community safety.
“Steve’s legacy of service, courage, integrity and dedication will be remembered with great respect and gratitude,” he said.
Mr Gollschewski’s family said he died surrounded by family after a sudden complication during an 18-month cancer journey.
“Our darling Steve passed away this morning surrounded by the love and admiration of his family after facing a sudden and cruel complication on his 18 month cancer journey,” the family said.
“Steve approached his diagnosis and treatment with resolute determination.
“As with so many facets of Steve’s life, especially his family, his long policing career and beloved hockey team, he gave it his all and did his very best.”
Before becoming commissioner, Mr Gollschewski was appointed to lead a review into police interactions with Browns Plains woman Doreen Langham, who died in a house fire with her ex-partner in February 2021.
That review led to improvements in the way Queensland Police respond to domestic and family violence.
Reforms introduced in the years that followed included improved access to interstate domestic violence information, greater use of body-worn cameras during domestic and family violence interactions and changes to police procedures requiring officers to check nationally recognised domestic violence orders and relevant interstate criminal histories.
Police training was also expanded, including face-to-face domestic and family violence training, while specialist support workers were embedded alongside officers.
In Logan, the Centre for Women & Co was funded to place domestic violence support workers at Logan Central Police Station.
By 2024, Mr Gollschewski said further system changes had automated information that previously needed to be manually entered, reducing the risk that changes to domestic violence orders or warning information would be missed.
As commissioner, Mr Gollschewski also backed Taskforce Guardian deployments in Logan targeting youth offending across the district.
Funeral details are not yet available.
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