Katarina Carroll
Australian police officer
Commissioner Katarina Carroll APM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service | |
| In office 8 July 2019 – 1 March 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Steve Gollschewski (acting) |
| Commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services | |
| In office 1 August 2015 – 5 June 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Greg Leach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Katarina Ruzh Bošnjak (1963-11-17) 17 November 1963 (age 60) Innisfail, Queensland, Australia |
| Alma mater | Griffith University |
| Occupation | Police officer |
Katarina Ruzh Carroll (nee Bošnjak) APM (born 17 November 1963) was an Australian police officer and the Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) from July 2019 to March 2024. She is the first female commissioner of QPS. She was formerly the Commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services from August 2015 until July 2019. On 20 February 2024, Carroll announced she would not seek an extension to her contract and would step down as of Friday 1 March 2024.[1]
Early life and education
Carroll was born on 17 November 1963 in Innisfail, Queensland, to Bosnian Croat parents, Ivan and Antonia Bošnjak from Ljubuški and Trebižat, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and raised on a tobacco farm in Innot Hot Springs.[2][3] She was educated at Mount Garnet State School, and then boarded at Mount St Bernard College, Herberton before completing an associate diploma in community welfare at James Cook University in Townsville.[4] She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminology and criminal justice from Griffith University, which awarded her its Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2018.[5]
Career
Carroll joined the Queensland Police Service in 1983, working in general duties, then as a detective in the drug squad, crime operations and ethical standards.[2][6] She was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2008 Australia Day Honours.[7] In 2014, Carroll served as Operations Commander for the G20 summit in Brisbane.[4]
Carroll joined the new Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in December 2014 as acting commissioner,[8] and was officially appointed to the role on 1 August 2015.[9]
On 23 April 2019, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that Carroll would succeed Ian Stewart as Commissioner of Queensland Police upon Stewart's retirement in July 2019. Carroll was appointed Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service on 8 July.[10]
In October 2019 Carroll was named one of The Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in the Public Policy category.[11]
On 12 February 2024, Carroll was invited to address the Queensland Cabinet where she sought for more police powers to tackle rising crime.[12] On 20 February 2024, Carroll announced her resignation from her position on 1 March 2024, rather than seeking an extension in the position.[1][13]
Honours and awards
Carroll wears the following Australian and Queensland awards and unit citations on the uniform:
| Honours and awards | |
|---|---|
 | Australian Police Medal (APM) |
 | National Emergency Medal |
 | National Police Service Medal |
 | National Medal |
 | Queensland Police Meritorious Service Medal |
 | Queensland Police Exemplary Conduct Medal (with category clasp) |
 | Queensland Police Service Medal (with relevant years of service clasp) |
 | G20 Citation |
 | Commonwealth Games Citation |
 | 2010–2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation |
 | QPS 150 Years Citation |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Live Moment: Queensland's police commissioner to step down from top job, says it is time for 'new leadership'". ABC News. 19 February 2024. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Bosnian Katarina Carroll is the First Female Commissioner of Police in Queensland". Sarajevo Times. 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ Who's Who in Australia. ConnectWeb. 2019.
- ^ a b "Meet our G20 peacemaker". The Courier-Mail. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Katarina Carroll". Griffith University. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Katarina Carroll appointed Queensland Police Commissioner". Queensland Government ministerial statement. The State of Queensland (Premier and Minister for Trade). 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Superintendent Katarina Ruzh CARROLL". honours.pmc.gov.au. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Katarina Carroll: bringing QFES into the 21st century". The Mandarin. 9 October 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "QEFS executive profiles". Fire and Emergency Services. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ Horn, Allyson (23 April 2019). "'A privilege and honour': Katarina Carroll appointed new Qld Police Commissioner". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "AFR's 11 most influential women revealed". Australian Financial Review. 22 October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ Bolton, Meg; Black, Jessica (12 February 2024). "Queensland police ask for more search powers, government to bring forward ban on selling knives to minors". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Queensland's top cop may exit role". www.9news.com.au. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
| Fire appointments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lee Johnson | Commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services 2015–2019 | Succeeded by Greg Leach |
| Police appointments | ||
| Preceded by Ian Stewart | Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service 2019–2024 | Succeeded by Steve Gollschewski |
