An independent investigation should be conducted into Tasmania Police's handling of child sexual abuse allegations against a former senior officer who was given a police funeral, the Greens say.
WARNING: This story contains details of sexual abuse which may cause distress
Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds served in the force for almost four decades until his death by suicide in September 2018, when he was being investigated for multiple offences.
His case had been highlighted in the final report of the Tasmanian child sexual abuse inquiry, which described the police investigation as "inadequate" and questioned why he was given a police funeral.
Concerns about Senior Sergeant Reynolds's behaviour first emerged during a conversation between local and interstate police officers at the Tasmania Police Academy bar in 2008.
According to the commission of inquiry's final report, an interstate officer claimed two local inspectors had suggested Senior Sergeant Reynolds — who held the rank of inspector at the time — was "a paedophile".
One of the local inspectors reportedly said he had visited Senior Sergeant Reynolds's home and seen him with a 15-year-old boy between his legs, giving him a massage.
The other inspector reportedly said his wife had been approached by people in the community concerned about his behaviour around young boys.
The interstate officer reported his concerns about the conversation to a Tasmania Police divisional inspector, who then briefed the commander of internal investigations.
But after the then deputy commissioner Darren Hine wrote to the two local inspectors about the alleged conversation, they suggested there had been a misinterpretation and there had been no reference to Senior Sergeant Reynolds being a paedophile.
An assistant commissioner who had been present during the conversation also said there was no mention of paedophilia and suggested further investigation was not warranted.
"He suggested that the interstate police officer had 'seriously misunderstood' the conversation and said such an allegation had 'potentially very damaging consequences' for a person wrongfully accused," the commission stated.
The commander of internal investigations subsequently closed the matter because no other evidence was available apart from the interstate officer's disputed account of the conversation.
A decade later, in 2018, a senior police officer lodged a complaint about Senior Sergeant Reynolds, alleging he had sent and received child exploitation material and had groomed young men, including some involved with a local football club.
When those allegations emerged, police searched Senior Sergeant Reynolds's home.
He took his own life soon after, and was subsequently given a police funeral, at which then-commissioner Hine gave a eulogy.
'There were failings in the original investigation'
The commission acknowledged Tasmania Police's investigation of Senior Sergeant Reynolds in 2018, but said it was concerned that not enough had been done a decade earlier when "credible reports" emerged about his behaviour.
"We consider that the approach to investigating the alleged conversation overheard by the interstate police officer was inadequate," the commission stated.
It also said it was concerned about the decision to give him a full police funeral, which an anonymous community member told the inquiry had portrayed the officer as a hero.
"We can only imagine how distressing this would have been for those who heard rumours about Senior Sergeant Reynold's behaviour and believed them to be true," the commission stated.
"We are concerned by the [then] Commissioner's delivery of the eulogy, given the Commissioner was, at that stage, aware of the concerns about [him]."
In response to the commission's criticism, Tasmania Police said it regretted its handling of the situation.
"We acknowledge there were failings in the original investigation into allegations relating to Paul Reynolds," it said.
"At the time of his death, police were in the initial stages of a criminal investigation relating to indecent mobile phone images being sent to minors, however the full extent of his conduct was not known at that stage.
"Quite simply, knowing what we do now, clearly the decision to grant a police funeral was a mistake, and one we regret."
Community needs independent probe, Greens say
In its final report, the commission said Tasmania Police had received 22 complaints or pieces of information about child sexual abuse allegations against its officers since 2000.
However, due to limited evidence, as well as time constraints, the commission said it had not explored the issue in detail.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said she would write to Police Minister Felix Ellis to request an independent investigation into the force's handling of complaints against Senior Sergeant Reynolds, including the decision to give him a police funeral.
Ms Woodruff said the probe should also examine whether the officer had any influence on other investigations involving child sexual abuse.
"The community have a right to understand what role Paul Reynolds played when allegations of child sexual abuse were made to police, and whether there is any potential he influenced the outcomes of such complaints, including potentially perverting the course of justice," Ms Woodruff said.
She recommended the investigation be conducted by a senior judicial figure from interstate, with the power to refer individuals for prosecution.
On Thursday, Mr Ellis said Senior Sergeant Reynolds should not have received a police funeral.
The ABC has sought further comment from the Tasmanian government.
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