Former Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has died after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer.<\/p>\n
Mr Gollschewski, 67, died in hospital in Brisbane <\/a>on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cOur 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,\u201d his family said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cSteve approached his diagnosis and treatment with resolute determination. As with so many facets of Steve\u2019s life, especially his family, his long policing career and beloved hockey team, he gave it his all and did his very best.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Gollschewski was the third longest serving police officer in QPS history. <\/p>\n Appointed Queensland Police Commissioner in April 2024, Mr Gollschewski was forced to step down in February 2025 following his shock cancer diagnosis.<\/a><\/p>\n He returned to the service in September 2025 after taking six months off <\/a>to fight stage four cancer which had spread from his lungs to his bones, liver and brain.<\/p>\n After a miraculous recovery \u2013 which involved targeted therapy \u2013 he said he chose to return to the service to focus on reforms.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve hit the point where the organisation is the least important thing and I\u2019ve done everything I can do to get it to where it needs to be,\u201d Mr Gollschewski told The Courier-Mail at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it\u2019s time for me to concentrate on getting my health right and looking after my family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s as simple as that. It was an easy decision.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n He is survived by his wife Rebecca and his six children<\/a>, including his youngest Georgie.<\/p>\n Mr Gollschewski joined the police service in 1980. <\/p>\n Current Commissioner Brett Pointing told staff Mr Gollschewski had died after a courageous battle.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross more than 46 years of service, Steve made an extraordinary contribution to policing, defined by principled leadership, integrity and enduring dedication,\u201d he told staff.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a strategic and visionary leader, respected for his courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment to community safety.<\/p>\n \u201cHis 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Pointing said that through Mr Gollschewski\u2019s distinguished career, he was a \u201cremarkable strategist and contemporary leader, disciplined in his thinking, measured in his decisions and guided by deeply held personal values\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIn every role he held, he brought extraordinary insight and vision, with the ability to absorb detail, understand complexity and recall information with exceptional clarity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHis legacy of service, courage, integrity and dedication will be remembered with great respect and gratitude by the many people and communities influenced by him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOn behalf of the Queensland Police Service, I extend our deepest condolences to Steve\u2019s family, friends, closest colleagues and all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.<\/p>\n \u201cFurther details will be shared with members when appropriate.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWith honour he served.\u201d<\/p>\n During his 46-year career Mr Gollschewski became a detective and rose through the ranks.<\/p>\n He was the Assistant Commissioner during the devastating Lockyer Valley floods in 2011<\/a>, the state disaster co-ordinator for major natural disasters and lead for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.<\/a><\/p>\n He also implemented QLiTEs for officers<\/a>, where they can access police information on iPads.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n As a deputy commissioner he ultimately became known as \u201cMr Fix It\u201d, for resolving issues facing the service and implementing reforms.<\/p>\n He was appointed special co-ordinator for police reform in 2022 and took on the top job after Katarina Carroll\u2019s sudden departure.<\/a><\/p>\n During the Covid years<\/a>, he was unable to go to his brother\u2019s funeral interstate <\/a>because of border regulations \u2013 however he only revealed this last year in an in-depth interview in Qweekend.<\/p>\n When he announced his retirement this year he told The Courier-Mail that he was a \u201creluctant Commissioner\u201d but took on the role because he wanted to reshape the service. <\/p>\n