A 28-year-old Indigenous man from Cunnamulla in remote central Queensland has fled town fearing for his safety, after a local police officer threatened to “flog” and “hurt” him.
The officer made the remarks in relation to the matter of $40 worth of allegedly stolen Keno tickets.
In a video posted on social media this week by the man’s sister, a Queensland police officer can be heard in the driver's seat of the marked police car threatening to hurt the man if he did not turn himself in.
The officer can be heard telling the sister that her brother had allegedly broken into a car of another local.
“He stole Keno tickets... and went and cashed them in, the dumbc**t,” said the officer in the video.
"If he comes to me, it looks a lot better for him, because either way he's being arrested.
"If you do see him, tell him to come see me before I find him, or else I'll flog him."
After the officer made physical threats towards the girl’s older brother, she replied in a worried manner.
"Well, he'll get charged — I don't think you can flog him,” said the sister.
"No, no, I'm just going to hurt him a little," said the officer.
His family said police were looking for him relating to the matter of "about $40 worth of stolen Keno tickets", but police would not comment on the circumstances.
Police to conduct an internal inquiry
In a statement, the Queensland Police Service said they were aware of the video and were making internal inquiries into the matter.
"The Queensland Police Service (QPS) expects all sworn members and civilian staff to adhere to the QPS Integrity Framework and the Queensland Public Service Code of Conduct," said a spokesperson.
"Every QPS member is expected to treat all members of the public with respect."
Professor Chelsea Watego from the University of Queensland told NITV News on Friday that she was not surprised by the police conduct, and that the response from QPS needed to be stronger.
“I think all citizens need to be concerned about the conduct not just of this police officer, but also the response from the Queensland Police Service,” said Ms Watego.
“The statement that they put out was fairly lacklustre.
Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman, Professor Chelsea Watego. Source: IndigenousX
“They’ve seen the footage and one would have thought that they would’ve condemned it outright, those remarks, without having to wait on some process.”
Ms Watego also took aim at the fact the police were apparently willing to physically harm and lock someone up over $40 worth of Keno tickets.
“The other thing that's interesting is that people are concerned about the threat to flog him and to hurt him but no attention is being given to the fact that $40 worth of Keno tickets can see a man get locked up before Christmas,” she said.
“The ease with which Blackfullas can find themselves incarcerated is a form of state-sanctioned violence that we also need to be discussing in the context of this conversation.
'Police must not investigate police'
In a statement to NITV News, Executive Officer of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, Jamie McConnachie said her organisation was "appalled" by the incident.
“The events in Cunnamulla further show that for our people, the police’s role as first responders is often not helpful, but harmful, and in many instances even fatal," said Ms McConnachie.
"We have said it time and time again: for true justice, police, prisons and authorities must be held accountable and police must not investigate police.
"As recommended by the Royal Commission over 30 years ago, we demand an independent oversight body for all state, territory, and federal police and prison complaints that is properly resourced, report directly to parliament, and have sufficient powers to refer matters for criminal investigation.”
