A suspended Queensland police officer accused of committing “serious violence” against a woman, making false CrimeStoppers reports and threatening to shoot himself in the head, has been granted bail after spending a night in the watch house.
Detective Senior Constable John Paul Daniel McDonnell was initially charged with one count of stalking (domestic violence offence) in March, allegedly while he was off duty.
Following a further investigation, he was arrested on a slew of additional offences yesterday, including three counts of misconduct in public office, two counts of common assault, two counts of computer hacking and misuse, one count of unlawful stalking and one count of dangerous conduct with a weapon.
Police have alleged the suspended officer made false CrimeStoppers reports and threatened to shoot himself in front of one woman. (ABC News: Lucas HIll)
The 36-year-old was also charged with one count of enter dwelling and commit (domestic violence offence), one count of deprivation of liberty, one count of distributing intimate images and two counts of distributing prohibited visual recordings.
Police alleged that these offences occurred over several years both on and off duty.
Senior Constable McDonnell, who worked in the Crime Command, appeared via video link today before the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
The court heard the offending related to multiple women.
Magistrate Julian Noud said there was “a concerning allegation” that the senior constable held his police-issued firearm to his temple and threatened his life in front of one woman.
He said the officer was allegedly “verbally aggressive” towards one woman and was alleged to have “committed serious violence”, including climbing on top of her, pinning her down and restraining her movements.
“They are serious allegations and involve a persistent course of conduct over a considerable period of time, where the defendant has targeted the complainant,” Magistrate Noud said.
The officer worked in the Queensland Police Crime Command until he was stood down from duty in 2024. (Supplied)
He was accused of distributing an intimate image of a former partner without her consent and sending false CrimeStoppers reports in circumstances where police officers were likely to apply for search warrants.
The court heard it was also alleged that the senior constable had made unlawful recordings of court proceedings.
Defence lawyer Calvin Gnech said Senior Constable McDonnell was stood down from duty in February 2024, which meant his firearm and police powers had been removed and he was a “civilian employee”.
After being charged with stalking, in April, he was suspended with pay, meaning he was “isolated” from QPS facilities and unable to attend work or access the service’s computers.
Mr Gnech said his client had complied with his bail for three months and that while it was early in the proceedings, they intended to fight the charges.
Police role allegedly ‘used to facilitate offending’
Prosecutor Alastair MacKenzie said the crown’s case was “extremely strong” and they opposed bail due to the senior constable’s “repeated alleged suicidal ideation and the threats of suicide as a manipulation and active domestic violence against the complainant”.
Mr MacKenzie said there should be little weight placed on the lack of criminal history due to the senior constable’s position as a police officer and that it was “used to facilitate the offending”.
The court heard Senior Constable McDonnell had dropped out of a criminology degree at the University of Queensland after accepting a job with the QPS in 2011.
He worked at Redcliffe and Deception Bay police stations and has lived in south-east Queensland his whole life, according to Mr Gnech.
The ABC understands Senior Constable McDonnell’s family has strong ties to the Queensland police service, with some of his family members having served in high-ranking positions.
Senior Constable McDonnell worked in the Drug and Serious Crime Group.
Senior Constable McDonnell was granted bail considering his lack of criminal history, his compliance with his earlier bail conditions, and the fact the proceedings could take years.
He was given stringent bail conditions and ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device, surrender his passport, and not contact the complainants.
The matter has been adjourned until next month.
