Former Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has died after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer.
Mr Gollschewski, 67, died in hospital in Brisbane on Friday.
“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,” his family said in a statement.
“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.”
Mr Gollschewski was the third longest serving police officer in QPS history.
Appointed Queensland Police Commissioner in April 2024, Mr Gollschewski was forced to step down in February 2025 following his shock cancer diagnosis.
He returned to the service in September 2025 after taking six months off to fight stage four cancer which had spread from his lungs to his bones, liver and brain.
After a miraculous recovery – which involved targeted therapy – he said he chose to return to the service to focus on reforms.
But after he had a bout of pneumonia that made him reflect on his health and family he retired from the service in February this year.
“I’ve hit the point where the organisation is the least important thing and I’ve done everything I can do to get it to where it needs to be,” Mr Gollschewski told The Courier-Mail at the time.
“Now it’s time for me to concentrate on getting my health right and looking after my family.
“It’s as simple as that. It was an easy decision.”
Mr Gollschewski had continued to battle with his cancer post retirement but in late August was also diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease, where the cancer spread to the fluid and thin layers of tissue around the brain and spinal cord.
He is survived by his wife Rebecca and his six children, including his youngest Georgie.
Mr Gollschewski joined the police service in 1980.
Current Commissioner Brett Pointing told staff Mr Gollschewski had died after a courageous battle.
“Across more than 46 years of service, Steve made an extraordinary contribution to policing, defined by principled leadership, integrity and enduring dedication,” he told staff.
“He was a strategic and visionary leader, respected for his courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment to community safety.
“His leadership through some of the most complex and significant moments in recent years reflected the confidence placed in him across the Service, government and the broader community.
“He was admired by many for his judgement, foresight and deep understanding of policing, and his impact will continue to be felt across Queensland, nationally and internationally for many years to come.”
Mr Pointing said that through Mr Gollschewski’s distinguished career, he was a “remarkable strategist and contemporary leader, disciplined in his thinking, measured in his decisions and guided by deeply held personal values”.
“In every role he held, he brought extraordinary insight and vision, with the ability to absorb detail, understand complexity and recall information with exceptional clarity,” he said.
“When faced with difficult decisions, he drew on his considerable experience and sound judgment, always considering the impact on frontline officers and the communities they served.
“His legacy of service, courage, integrity and dedication will be remembered with great respect and gratitude by the many people and communities influenced by him,” he said.
“On behalf of the Queensland Police Service, I extend our deepest condolences to Steve’s family, friends, closest colleagues and all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.
“Further details will be shared with members when appropriate.
“In the meantime, I ask that we continue to support one another, particularly those who knew Steve well, and honour his extraordinary contribution to the QPS and the Queensland community.
“With honour he served.”
During his 46-year career Mr Gollschewski became a detective and rose through the ranks.
He was the Assistant Commissioner during the devastating Lockyer Valley floods in 2011, the state disaster co-ordinator for major natural disasters and lead for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
He also implemented QLiTEs for officers, where they can access police information on iPads.
He was the face of the police response to Covid during gruelling periods of lockdown, fronting the media almost every day to keep Queenslanders up to date.
As a deputy commissioner he ultimately became known as “Mr Fix It”, for resolving issues facing the service and implementing reforms.
He was appointed special co-ordinator for police reform in 2022 and took on the top job after Katarina Carroll’s sudden departure.
During the Covid years, he was unable to go to his brother’s funeral interstate because of border regulations – however he only revealed this last year in an in-depth interview in Qweekend.
When he announced his retirement this year he told The Courier-Mail that he was a “reluctant Commissioner” but took on the role because he wanted to reshape the service.
Mr Gollschewski was this year announced in the King’s Birthday Honours as being appointed Officer of the Order of Australia, which was to be conducted via a ceremony with Governor Jeannette Young on September 16.
However, as his health continued to decline, a snap ceremony was organised within a few hours for Ms Young to personally deliver it to him in his hospital bed.
Premier David Crisafulli said Queenslanders would be deeply saddened to hear of Mr Gollschewski’s death.
“Mr Gollschewski devoted his life to the Queensland Police Service, upholding our laws and making our state a safer place,” he said.
“Queenslanders will remember his exemplary leadership, during some of the state’s most difficult challenges.
“He spent more than four decades serving with remarkable dedication and integrity, leaving behind a legacy of outstanding contribution to policing and community safety.
“On behalf of all Queensland, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Police Minister Dan Purdie said Mr Gollschewski made significant reforms to the service.
“Mr Gollschewski is remembered as one of Australia’s most respected police leaders – a colleague, friend and mentor to many – who was instrumental and relentless in his pursuit to reform the QPS and make Queensland safer,” he said.
“Mr Gollschewski dedicated his life to Queenslanders with more than 46 years of service, having joined the then-Queensland Police Force in 1980 and is currently the third longest serving police officer in the QPS’ history.
“On behalf of the Crisafulli Government, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife Rebecca and his children.”
Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said it was a sad day for policing in Queensland.
“Mr Gollschewski and I weren’t close mates, and we didn’t always see every issue through the same set of eyes,” he said.
“But we respected the positions each of us held and, more importantly, understood the responsibility that came with representing and leading Queensland police officers.
“He was renowned as a tough taskmaster. He expected results, he drove people hard and he was enormously proud of policing and the officers who did the job.
“Anyone who spent enough time around Steve knew there was one thing guaranteed to put a genuine smile on his face, seeing good police work deliver a result. When an operation or initiative he had championed ended with a serial violent offender in handcuffs and off the streets, you could see exactly why policing meant so much to him,” he said.
Mr Prior said Mr Gollschewski dedicated his working life to the Queensland community.
“Like all of us who have spent decades in this job, he knew policing could be frustrating, demanding and sometimes unforgiving, but he never lost his determination to make a difference,” he said.
“On behalf of the QPU and our members, I extend my sincere sympathy to Steve’s wife and children at what will be an incredibly distressing time.
“Today, I farewell and acknowledge a fellow leader.”