A Tasmanian police officer who died by suicide while under investigation over multiple child sexual abuse offences has been described as "just the greatest groomer" in a review that details three decades of offending.
An interim report by former war crimes prosecutor Regina Weiss into Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds' conduct, found he groomed and sexually abused teenage boys between 1988 and 2018, largely in the state's north and north-west.
It found the former police officer, football coach and administrator, and basketball umpire used his positions to groom "his victims, their parents and the small communities they lived in".
"The accounts of grooming and abuse as told by the victim-survivors, their families and observers are harrowing, shocking and devastating," Ms Weiss said in the report.
"The betrayal of trust felt by so many is evident.
"What is also shocking is that Paul Reynolds' conduct continued for over three decades despite it being known or suspected that Paul Reynolds was, at the very least, interacting inappropriately with teenage boys."
Victim-survivors told the review that Senior Sergeant Reynolds' respected position in the community made it "near impossible" to speak out about his offending.
A boy subjected to abuse more than 30 years ago told Ms Weiss "who would believe me?"
Another victim-survivor said they "wouldn't even have known who I could report to".
"Who polices the police?"
One victim-survivor described Senior Sergeant Reynolds as "just the greatest groomer".
"He was so charismatic, everyone wanted to be around him," they said.
Ms Weiss said Senior Sergeant Reynolds particularly used his position as a basketball umpire in the 1980s to groom boys, then used his involvement in local football clubs to do so in later years.
"Evidence considered by the independent review shows that Paul Reynolds used football as an initial conversation starter with teenage boys, progressing to grooming, explicit messaging in the form of text and photos and in some instances, physical sexual abuse," the report said.
Victims described telling the inquiry their story as a "40-year-old burden being lifted from my shoulders".
Another described it as giving them "a little bit of closure".
Officers upset to learn about Reynolds' offending after attending funeral
Senior Sergeant Reynolds died by suicide in 2018 while under investigation for multiple offences.
The Commission of Inquiry into Government Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings found not enough was done by Tasmania Police in 2008 when credible reports emerged about Senior Sergeant Reynolds' behaviour, and criticised a decision to give him a full police funeral.
The independent review was announced by Police Commissioner Donna Adams late last year, to look into Senior Sergeant Reynolds' conduct and how complaints were handled by police.
It is also looking into whether there was any misconduct by police officers in dealing with complaints made to or about Senior Sergeant Reynolds, and whether other police officers have been alleged to have committed child sexual abuse.
Ms Weiss' interim report found people who made submissions about Senior Sergeant Reynolds' conduct expressed disappointment at only learning about his offending five years after his death, with some voicing their dismay at having attended the full police funeral.
Commissioner Adams apologised last year for giving Sergeant Reynolds a full police funeral.
Ms Weiss said the apology was "reflected on positively" by some review participants, although some questioned why it took five years for an apology to be made.
In a statement, Commissioner Adams said it was "deeply distressing to learn that a once-trusted member of Tasmania Police used his role to groom and abuse children as far back as 1988".
"I am deeply sorry for the hurt and suffering you experienced, the ongoing impact, and that you weren't able to share your experiences before now," she said.
"As commissioner, one of my key aims is to build community confidence in our police service and that is why I believe this independent review is an important step forward in rebuilding trust."
Four people have been referred to Tasmania Police about inappropriate behaviour: two retired police officers, one deceased police officer and one person who is not a police officer.
Commissioner Adams said no information had been passed on to her about allegations of current offending or inappropriate behaviour by a serving police officer.
The interim report noted participants spoke of a culture of silence inside the Tasmanian policing community, which Ms Weiss said had "some way to go" before being eradicated, despite changes in attitude through awareness, education, organisational transparency and individual accountability.
A final report, which will make findings and recommendations, including about how to strengthen reporting gaps and complaints-handling processes, will be handed to Commissioner Adams in June.
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