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Police union urged to 'calm down' over Mulrunji decision

28 January 2007 - A former mayor of Palm Island has labelled the Queensland Police Union (QPU) "childish" for suggesting officers be pulled out of some of the state's Indigenous communities.

The QPU is angry Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley is to be charged with manslaughter over the death in custody of Mulrunji on Palm Island in 2004.

QPU spokesman Denis Fitzpatrick has suggested officers should be withdrawn from some Indigenous communities.

"If they don't want the police there, get them out. Let tribal law take over, let them police their own communities," he said.

But former Palm Island mayor Erika Kyle says the union needs to calm down.

She says the union is over-reacting.

"It's quite childish for police to say that," she said.

"We'd like to say to the police calm down. We are going through a very, very painful time."

Mr Fitzpatrick says if officers are to stay in Indigenous communities, police resources need to be dramatically increased.

"No watch-house in Aboriginal communities anywhere in this state can possibly comply with black death in custody recommendations," he said.

But Premier Peter Beattie has rejected widespread change.

"In small communities it is simply a waste of money," he said.

State Police Minister Judy Spence says withdrawing police from remote Aboriginal communities will leave women and children defenceless.

The Minister says most members of Aboriginal communities are supportive of police.

"Police in Aboriginal communities have to deal with the highest levels of violence of any communities in Australia," she said.

"But I know at the end of the day the Police Union understand that while there may be people in Aboriginal communities who don't like their presence there, many more people support the good work that these people do."

The QPU is considering marching on State Parliament but Mr Beattie is urging caution.

"They're entitled to march but they have an obligation to stay on duty," he said.

The QPU hopes hundreds of police officers will attend the march, regardless of whether they are on duty or not.

Source: ABC

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