What’s happening?
Senior Sergeant Ewan Findlater has been farewelled from the Queensland Police Service as he begins a well-earned retirement.
The Officer in Charge of Rockhampton Highway Patrol was piped out this morning at Rockhampton Police Complex on Bolsover Street.
A Rockhampton local, Senior Sergeant Findlater, started at the Police Academy in September 1986. He was sworn into the Queensland Police Service in 1987, before early postings at the Gold Coast, Woolloongabba and Annerley.
After Expo 88, he returned to Rockhampton around October 1988. He said he had been based in the city ever since.
“I came back to Rockhampton after Expo 88,” Senior Sergeant Findlater said. “So, about October 1988, I came to Rocky. And I’ve been here ever since.”
Why it matters?
Senior Sergeant Findlater’s career has been closely tied to road safety across Central Queensland.
For the past 18 years, he has led Rockhampton Highway Patrol. His work has focused on reducing road trauma and helping make local roads safer.
He said highway patrol officers were not on the road to raise revenue, but to prevent crashes and save lives.
“Contrary to popular belief, we’re not out there raising money for the government,” he said. “We’re out there trying to save people’s lives.”
He said that purpose was shared by the officers he worked with each day.
“The guys in my office do that every day. Guys and girls. Every day,” he said.
Local Impact
Senior Sergeant Findlater spent most of his policing career serving the Rockhampton community.
His time in highway patrol placed him close to some of the region’s most serious road safety issues. It also gave him a front-row view of how small decisions behind the wheel can change lives.
He said the good parts of the job often came from the people around him.
“I think the good times are daily getting out there, doing the job with people who are like-minded,” he said.
“We work hard, but we tend to play hard as well. I’ve met some wonderful people. Some people have been my friends for life.”
He said some officers had become “as close to me as brothers” during his career.
By the numbers
- Senior Sergeant Findlater has served 39 years with the Queensland Police Service, beginning his policing career in 1987.
- He returned to Rockhampton around October 1988 after Expo 88 and remained based in the city.
- He has led Rockhampton Highway Patrol for the past 18 years, with road safety a major focus of his work.
Zoom In
Senior Sergeant Findlater said he did not always expect to spend his working life in Rockhampton policing.
After finishing school in Rockhampton, he first went to university and studied biology for 12 months. He later decided it was not for him and joined the police service.
“I actually went to the uni and did biology,” he said. “Mastered there for 12 months, and then I dropped out and decided that wasn’t for me. And then I joined the police service.”
He said he had not looked back since.
Over the years, he has seen major changes in policing, especially through technology and public expectations.
“We’ve seen a lot of technology,” he said. “Make our jobs easier, make what we do easier.”
He said technology also brought more accountability, which he viewed as important.
“What we do, we have to be able to do above reproach and have the confidence of the public,” he said.
Zoom Out
Senior Sergeant Findlater said policing had changed in more ways than one.
He said community expectations had shifted, and public respect for police was not always what it once was.
“When I first started, there was a lot of respect for police,” he said. “That’s probably not as common these days.”
He also said technology had improved safety for officers, including those working beside roads.
“Obviously, being on the side of the road is one of the most dangerous things you can do,” he said. “So anything that makes the troops a little bit safer is a good thing.”
He said body-worn cameras had also helped protect officers from false claims.
“It shows what happened in true and correct time,” he said.
What To Look For Next?
Senior Sergeant Findlater said he does not turn 60 until November and has taken leave before his official retirement.
He said retirement would include time with his granddaughter, golf, fishing and travel with his wife.
“My granddaughter. Playing some golf. Doing some fishing,” he said.
He said they were more interested in cruising than caravanning.
“We’re into cruising,” he said. “So we’re going to cruise around the world and see some different countries.”
After decades of service, he said he was ready for a different pace.
“Just looking forward to not coming here every day and being responsible for what everyone does,” he said.
