Police Commissioner to retire for more cancer treatment

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski will call time on a four-and-a-half decade career on Wednesday.

Having stepped into the role in April 2024 after the surprise resignation of Katarina Carroll, his reform plans were derailed when he was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Gollschewski was forced to take extended leave in February 2025.

He returned to work in September, after receiving what he described as “highly effective” treatment, but a police spokesperson said Gollschewski was retiring to get further treatment.

The 66-year-old would address the media on Wednesday, the spokesperson said.

On his return last year, Gollschweski said he planned “to be around for some time yet”.

“Coming from a policing family and having spent 45 years in this wonderful organisation, I want to leave it in better shape than I found it, and I will work alongside you to achieve that,” he said in a memo to staff.

Gollschewski became a familiar face to Queenslanders during the daily COVID-19 briefings early in the pandemic.

He led the security operation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and was also Queensland Disaster Coordinator during several floods and cyclones.