Queensland Police Deputy Chief Retiring

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon will retire at the end of 2026 after nearly 40 years of service, closing a career marked by leadership in major investigations, public safety reforms and counter-terrorism operations.

Scanlon joined the Queensland Police Service as a 19-year-old in 1986 and served as Deputy Commissioner for Specialist Operations. Her work included leadership across child protection, sexual violence, youth crime, ethical standards and major criminal investigations. She is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in the United States.

Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing described Scanlon as an exceptional and collaborative leader whose influence would continue through the people she supported and the reforms she helped advance. Scanlon said criminal investigation had remained her professional passion and that she was grateful for the opportunity to serve communities across Queensland.

Among the most challenging assignments of her career, Scanlon cited overseeing the investigation into the 2014 deaths of eight children in Cairns and preparing the brief of evidence for the coronial investigation into the Wieambilla shootings. She will remain part of the QPS senior executive leadership team until her retirement later this year.