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2018ArticlesCauseCommittedCurrently ServingDeceased PoliceDepressionFacialFuneralGenderIllnessIncompleteMaleNOT RECORDED ON DATABASEOf Church serviceOff DutyPhotosStateSuicideTASTributeYear

Paul James REYNOLDS

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Paul James REYNOLDS

 

AKA  ?  

* Nickname: Beau REYNOLDS

Late of  ? 

 

Relations in ‘the job’:

“possible” relation in ‘the job‘:    ?

 

Tasmania Police Academy –  Class #  ? ? ? 

 

Tasmania Police Force

 

Regd. #  ????? 

 

Rank: Commenced Training at Tasmania Police Academy on Monday ? ? 1980

Probationary Constable- appointed ? ? ? 

Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Detective – appointed ? ? ?

Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? 

Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?

Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?

Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ? 

Inspector – appointed ? ? ?

Demoted to Senior Sergeant – ? ? ?

 

Final Rank: = Senior Sergeant

 

Stations?, Savage River, Launceston, OIC – Prosecution Services – North West, Death

  

Time employed ( Paid ) with Tasmania PoliceFrom:   ? ? 1980 to  13 September 2018 = 38 years,

Service ( From Training Date ) period: From  ? ? 1980  to  13 September 2018 = 38 years Service

 

 

Retirement / Leaving age: =  58 years,

Time in Retirement from Police: 0

 

Awards:  National Medal – granted 8 April 1995 ( Constable )

Paul Reynolds

 

 Born:   ? ? ? in Devonport, Tasmania

Died on: Thursday 13 September 2018

Age: 58 years,

Organ Donor:  Y / N / ?

 

Cause:  Depression – Suicide – ( Method ? )

Event locationParkham in Tasmania’s north

Event / Diagnosis date ?

 

Funeral date:   Wednesday, 19th September 2018, 11am 

Funeral locationThe Church of the Apostles in Margaret Street

LIVE STREAM    ?

 

 

Wake location???

Wake dateWednesday, 19th September 2018

 

 

Funeral Parlour: ?

 

Buried at? TBA

Grave LocationSection:          Row?         Plot?

Grave GPS?,       ?

 

Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at?

Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( February 2024 )

 

PAUL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance  *NEED MORE INFO


 

 

FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal


May they forever Rest In Peace


Coroner urges six-monthly welfare checks after inquest into four police suicide deaths

Posted 
  • In short: A Hobart coroner who investigated the deaths of four police officers who took their own lives has recommended Tasmania Police conduct mandatory half-yearly well-being screenings for PTSD.
  • What’s next? The Police commissioner says work will continue with the police association to implement changes

 

The family of one of four Tasmanian police officers who died by suicide between 2016 and 2020 say they hope the findings of a coronial inquest may prevent a similar tragedy in the future.

Coroner Simon Cooper has handed down his findings into the deaths of Constable Paul Hunt, Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds, Constable Simon Darke and Sergeant Robert Cooke, recommending a swathe of welfare supports be implemented.

 

WARNING: This story touches on themes of depression and suicide.

 

During last year’s hearings, the court was told how overworked officers were self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, and of significant shortfalls in welfare support — particularly in areas such as fatigue management and protocols around interactions with the Professional Standards Command.

In his findings, Coroner Cooper, acknowledged the fact that these men were all serving police officers was “only part of the whole picture” of their lives, but he said he had “no doubt” that “Sergeant Cooke‘s police service was the direct cause of his death“.

But he said the provision of welfare support and whether it was adequate was a “central consideration at the inquest.”

He called for Tasmania Police to immediately develop and implement a fatigue management policy saying it was essential it was “addressed urgently”.

The inquest heard Robert Cooke had reportedly worked “16-hour continuous shifts for four weeks” during the Central Highlands bushfires in 2019.

This had left him “exhausted and barely functioning towards the end of the third week”.

“Tasmania Police had no fatigue management policy at any time, up to and including as recently as when the evidence at the inquest was publicly taken at the end of 2022,” he said.

The absence of any fatigue management policy was, I consider, a direct factor in Sergeant Cooke’s death.”

Tasmania Police officers salute at Robert Cooke's funeral in 2020.(ABC News: Luke Bowden)
Tasmania Police officers salute at Robert Cooke’s funeral in 2020 .(ABC News: Luke Bowden)

The coroner also recommended six-monthly screenings of all operation police officers for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sergeant Cooke obviously suffered from the effects of PTSD for a long time before it was diagnosed,” he said.

“Every health care professional who gave evidence … unanimously agreed that his PTSD was entirely attributable to his service as a police officer.

“Every health care professional also agreed that earlier detection of PTSD increases the chances of successful treatment and recovery.”

Tasmania Police investigating the feasibility of “introducing a points system”, whereby an officer’s exposure to severe incidents would be tracked, was also recommended.

When a “critical points threshold” was reached, an automatic referral to a psychologist should be triggered, Coroner Cooper said.

 

The coroner also called for better support for officers under investigation for misconduct — including ensuring that those who had their phone seized by Professional Standards be given a replacement mobile pre-programmed with well-being support numbers.

“The death of any member of the community by suicide is a tragedy,” Coroner Cooper said.

The suicide of serving police officers, whatever their individual circumstances, is particularly tragic for serving members of the police force and the community at large.

“My sincere hope is that some improvements and learnings can emerge from the deaths of Constable Hunt, Senior Sergeant Reynolds, Constable Darke and Sergeant Cooke.”

Robert COOKE, Bob COOKE, Rob COOKE, Cookie
Sergeant Robert “Cookie” Cooke was well-regarded among his Tasmania Police colleagues.(ABC News: Luke Bowden)

Families welcome findings

In a statement, Robert Cooke‘s mother Lyn and sister Michelle said they were satisfied with the findings, particularly the recommendations for a fatigue management policy and screenings for PTSD stress disorder.

“The family miss Rob terribly and hope the findings and increased support for mental health may prevent similar events in the future,” they said.

“[Our] thoughts are with all the families involved in this inquest.”

Commissioner committed to ‘safe model of policing’

 

Police Commissioner Donna Adams acknowledged it was a difficult time for the families and colleagues impacted by the coronial report.

She said improvements had already been made within Tasmania Police.

Strategies included “a strong peer support group, and a critical stress program” to ensure officers could access the help they needed.

 

But she said changes wouldn’t end there — and that Tasmania Police would work with the Police Association to examine the coroner’s recommendations.

Police Minister Felix Ellis said the government had allocated funding to “Tasmania Police and the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management’s nation-leading wellbeing program”.

“Police officers, by the nature of the job, are exposed to some pretty difficult and extraordinary circumstances, so providing that support is important,” he said.

“We want to work to make sure that policing continues to be a career or choice, and that we’re supporting our officers if they do find themselves facing challenging circumstances.”

Coroner urges six-monthly welfare checks after inquest into four police suicide deaths – ABC News

 

Helplines:


Inquest hears Tasmania Police officer Paul Reynolds was facing child exploitation claims before suicide

Posted , updated 
Paul Reynolds
The inquest heard the allegations involved numerous underage male youths being sent photos and inappropriate messages.(ABC News)

 

A senior police officer who was part of the response to the Port Arthur massacre and the Beaconsfield Mine collapse was facing serious child exploitation allegations before his death, a coronial inquest has heard.

Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds was 54 when he died by suicide in September 2018 in Parkham in Tasmania’s north.

He is one of four officers whose death is being investigated as part of a joint coronial inquest in the Launceston Magistrates Court.

The deaths of Constable Paul Hunt, Constable Simon Darke and Sergeant Robert Cooke will also form part of the inquiry.

All four men died by suicide between 2016 and 2020.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Cameron Lee, said Senior Sergeant Reynolds was a “highly respected police officer” but that reputation was tarnished when “shocking and despicable allegations” came to light.

On the night before his death, Senior Sergeant Reynolds was visited at his Westbury property by officers from the Professional Standards Command.

They were there to search the property after allegations he had sent and received child exploitation material, and that he had groomed young men, including members of the local Deloraine Football Club, into doing unlawful acts.

The allegations against Senior Sergeant Reynolds involved numerous underage male youths being sent photos and inappropriate messages.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds is also alleged to have given young boys “rub downs” at the football club, been present when they were showering and during “naked ice baths.”

Police also are alleged to have found photos and sexually explicit messages on his phone sent to other male adults.

The inquest heard a senior officer had lodged a complaint the week before outlining the claims to Blue Teams —  a tool available for officers to report and make complaints about colleagues.

At the time of the search, the inquest heard Senior Sergeant Reynolds denied any wrongdoing and told his wife there was no evidence to find.

At the inquest, Mr Lee read a quote from a transcript of Senior Sergeant Reynolds during the search of his property.

“This is career destroying … what an end to a 40-year career,” Mr Lee said.

He told the inquest that “it was widely known in Deloraine that he was a paedophile“.

Paul Reynolds joined Tasmania Police in 1980.

He was one of the first on the scene at the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 and at the Beaconsfield gold mine collapse 10 years later.

The coroner was told Senior Sergeant Reynolds was diagnosed with depression in 2012.

In the same year, he was formally reprimanded for poor work performance and demoted from inspector to senior sergeant.

Paul Reynolds

“He didn’t like being an inspector, he wanted to return to being a sergeant and be one of the troops,” Mr Lee told the inquest.

 

Welfare officer felt ‘let down’

Sergeant Fiona Smith told the inquest her workload as a welfare officer "was massive".( ABC News: Jessica Moran )
Sergeant Fiona Smith told the inquest her workload as a welfare officer “was massive”. ( ABC News: Jessica Moran )

Sergeant Fiona Smith was Tasmania Police’s welfare officer at the time.

The inquest heard she was asked to contact Senior Sergeant Reynolds the morning after the search and check on him.

She was unable to get in touch as his mobile was confiscated during the search.

It was obviously difficult to contact him when he didn’t have a phone,” she said.

During her evidence, she said felt let down by Tasmania Police and was not offered the support she needed for her growing caseload.

When she was in the role, she said she could have more than 100 cases. The role is now split between eight people.

“I had, at one stage, grave concerns for 13 members of the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management teams … my workload was massive.”

In regards to the management of Constable Paul Hunt, Sergeant Smith said she was not invited to be involved in his meeting with Professional Standards on the day he died.

On Monday, the inquest heard that Constable Hunt took his life on the day he had a meeting with the police professional standards team.

Sergeant Smith said she was not invited to the unannounced meeting which had been called over allegations he had been using his police badge and fake driver’s licence numbers to obtain codeine-based and pseudoephedrine-based medications from several pharmacies.

“I knew him very well, we were very good friends, he trusted me and our relationship was really good,” she said.

“I stressed to the inspector at the time that I needed to be in that meeting … it made me quite angry that I wasn’t, even just for me to be outside afterwards.

I’m not saying he wouldn’t have done what he did when he got home, but I’m confident I would have got him home and supported him.”

The inquest also heard Sergeant Smith was served with an official directive to not communicate with Paul Hunt’s family after his death as it could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

The inquest continues.


Remembering Paul

“Paul was the Inspector in Charge during the rescue operation at the Beaconsfield mine collapse on the 25th April 2006 where one person died and two others, Todd Russell and Brandt Webb were rescued a fortnight later. Paul received a Police Commendation for his efforts in that disaster.” – FB user

“This event (Beaconsfield mine rescue) was a defining moment in his career. His ability to adapt his leadership approach from briefing EM committees to the media conferences (where he virtually led the way for TasPol, to the sensitivities of dealing with volunteers eg. within SES was without a doubt, extraordinary. It was recognised from afar eg WAPOL who flew us over to learn from the experience. I remember the way Beau stood out the back with Bill Shorten and how he carried himself in those moments. Sharp wit mixed with tailored delivery.” – FB user

“I’ll never forget the cheeky look on his face every time I walked into the PFCP at beaccy and he’d kick you and your slow typing off the computer. Every single time. I can’t believe I’ll never see that cheeky smile again.” – FB user

“I was only a young boy growing up in the town of Savage River and PR was our local police officer, a fresh-faced young Constable. Sorry, I can’t recall the years, I was born in 77 and we left in 90. He left before we did, I believe they closed the station a few years before we left.” – FB user

“Paul ‘Beau’ Reynolds was serving at Tullah in the late 80s when I was about 14/15 years old. I was playing basketball for the Tullah men’s side as teenagers and Paul was a part of that… he taught us hardness and respect… treating us as adults… absolute champion bloke who had our respect both as a person and a police officer. RIP Beau… absolute legend!!” – FB user

“A truly wonderful gentleman whom we had only met in the last few years through football but he made such a positive impact in our son’s life and ours he certainly will be missed. RIP Paul. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and work colleagues” – FB user

“I first came across Beau having him as our basketball coach, then as a referee when I joined the Coppers. A true gentleman who treated everyone with respect. His jokes and laughter were infectious… Always made people smile.” – FB user

“So many funny and fond memories of my friend Beau from our St Brendan’s Shaw days then later in life when I happened to be at the police academy for a visit. What a great funny man who should have been beside the great comedians in Hollywood. Forever his pranks and humour will live on. The world is now less without you in it old mate” – FB user

 

“Directing Staff on 2002 Sergeants Course. I never forgot his influence…” – FB user

Tasmania Police senior sergeant Paul Reynolds has died

Matt Maloney

We are mourning the death of Paul “Beau” Reynolds who passed away suddenly on Thursday, 13th September 2018.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds served with Tasmania Police for 38 years, including time as an inspector in Launceston. He was born in Devonport and attended Charles Sturt University.

He was most recently in charge of prosecution services in the North-West.

Commissioner Darren Hine said welfare support was being provided to his family and the wider police community.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds was elected president of the Northern Tasmania Football Association last year after serving as coach for the Longford Tigers and working with the St Patrick’s College senior team.

He was chairman of the Tasmanian Football Council.

AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said the Tasmanian State League would observe a moment of silence this weekend and players in all three grand finals would wear black armbands in his memory.

He will forever be remembered for his dedication to serving the community and as a true leader within the state’s police and football community.

Source: https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5647146/police-tsl-mourn-senior-officers-paul-reynolds-death/?cs=7669


Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds remembered as ‘a wonderful father, husband and a very fine police officer’

19 2018, 5:30PM – Melissa Mobbs
Paul James REYNOLDS, Paul REYNOLDS, Beau REYNOLDS
Hundreds of police formed a guard of honour at Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds’ funeral on Wednesday. Pictures: Scott Gelston

Senior Sergeant Paul “Beau” Reynolds tragically died last week, leaving his family, friends and Tasmania Police team devastated.

Long-time friend and celebrant of the funeral Father Richard Ross said Senior Sergeant Reynolds was remembered as a man “who had time for everyone”.

“He always made the person he was speaking to feel so special,” he said.

“He was full of love, warmth, and generosity, and was just such a terrific and well-respected guy.

“He was a wonderful father and husband, and a very fine police officer. He was a really effective coach and administrator, particularly in the football community, and the sense of loss [during the funeral] was massive.”

Father Ross also shared a message for Senior Sergeant Reynolds’ colleagues, and that was “thank you”.

“Just for what they do, they see the worst of humanity and they deal with that on a daily basis,” he said.

“The cumulative effect of trauma has been well documented and I think ultimately Paul was a victim of that.

“I encourage police to take care of themselves and know it is OK to ask for help.”

Speaking at the service, Commissioner Darren Hine shared some of the many highlights from Senior Sergeant Reynolds’ 38-year career.

He was one of the first officers on the scene at Port Arthur after the 1996 massacre and received a commendation for his work following the tragedy.

He was also commended by the Commissioner for his performance as the officer in charge of managing police activities during the rescue of miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb and the recovery of the body of Larry Knight at Beaconsfield in 2006.

The dedicated officer also spent time working in the Coroner’s office and attended countless fatal crashes throughout his career.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds’ 38-year career with Tasmania Police was recognised.

“Beau was posted all over the state during his 38-year career,” Commissioner Hine said.

“Beau successfully completed many courses throughout his career and he put those skills to good use wherever he served.

“His loss will be deeply felt across Tasmania Police, and our thoughts are prayers are with [his family] at this difficult time.”

Officers from across the state formed a guard of honour after the funeral service for the much-loved son, husband, father, brother and uncle.

Beyond his work in the force, he was highly regarded among the local football community.

Last year he was elected president of the Northern Tasmania Football Association and had served as coach for the Longford Tigers, worked with the St Patrick’s College senior team, and was chairman of the Tasmanian Football Council.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds leaves behind his wife Sharon, and children Jacob, Emily, Ben and Tori.

Source: The Examiner


Launceston road closures expected as police, family prepare to farewell Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds

September 19 2018, 8:18AM

The funeral service is expected to cause some delays and police are asking drivers to be patient.

Margaret Street between Frederick Street and York Street and Elizabeth Street between Margaret Street and Bathurst Street will be affected from about noon.

Senior Sergeant Reynolds died suddenly last week.

He served with Tasmania Police for 38 years, including time as an inspector in Launceston.

His funeral will be held at 11am today at The Church of the Apostles in Margaret Street.

Source: The Examiner


Tributes

REYNOLDS, Paul “Beau”, Senior Sergeant.

Beau served as a member of the Tasmania Police Service for 38 years and his loss will be felt deeply across our agency.

The Commissioner, Members and Employees of Tasmania Police are saddened by the sudden death of their colleague and offer their deepest sympathy to his family.

Published in The Mercury on 18/09/2018

REYNOLDS Paul James

Paul died

September 13, 2018.

He was a friend, colleague and member of the Police Association of Tasmania.

Our sincere condolences to Sharon, Jacob, Emily,

Ben and Tori.

Rest in Peace.

We will remember him.

Published in The Mercury on 18/09/2018

Social Media

Facebook profile of Paul Reynolds

 

LinkedIn profile of Paul Reynolds

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