Widow slams police over 'disgraceful' ambush probe

The widow of an officer fatally shot in an ambush has described a Queensland Police probe into her husband's death as "nothing short of disgraceful".

Susie Forte says she has no doubt another officer will be killed in the near future, accusing the police service of a cover up.

Senior Constable Brett Forte, 42, and his police partner were "sitting ducks" when Ricky Maddison lured them down a dirt road and opened fire with a machine gun in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, on May 29, 2017.

Mrs Forte, who is also an officer, listened helplessly as the fatal encounter unfolded on police radio.

Delivering his inquest findings on Tuesday, coroner Terry Ryan said several systemic factors may have contributed to Sen Const Forte's death and it was possible the shooting could have been prevented.

Speaking outside court, Mrs Forte said she respected the findings.

"However, the police investigation into my husband's death has been nothing short of disgraceful and not impartial," she said.

"Many issues I asked questions about continue to be swept under the carpet and there is no doubt an incident like this will happen again in the near future as the problems have not been rectified."

Mrs Forte said she and her husband's partner, Senior Constable Cath Nielsen, were bullied by Queensland Police after the shooting.

"We asked questions and when we did, we were exposed to ongoing bullying, intimidation, threats, gaslighting and manipulation by the very same people who took a pledge to serve with honour," she said.

"Cath and I and have been subjected to belittling submissions that defamed our character. We have been blamed for Brett's death and have had a mockery made of our personal work abilities, which is heartbreaking and unprofessional.

"I now know why honest officers in the QPS do not speak up."

Mr Ryan said Mrs Forte and Sen Const Nielsen had raised "legitimate concerns".

However, he noted a senior sergeant had filed complaints for perjury and failing to report misconduct after Sen Const Nielsen's evidence and Mrs Forte's affidavit during the inquest.

"Both women were victims of serious criminal offending and were entitled to be treated accordingly," Mr Ryan said.

"It was ill advised for complaints to be made against either woman."

He said there was a "significant failure of leadership" during the police pursuit of Maddison and missed opportunities to arrest the known high-risk offender before the shooting.

Maddison, 40, had been hiding in a rural stronghold for almost three months, avoiding an arrest warrant for a domestic violence incident.

Police spotted his vehicle in Toowoomba and followed him on the Warrego Highway, before Maddison stopped suddenly on a dirt road.

He opened fire, peppering Sen Const Forte's car.

Sen Const Forte reversed, but the vehicle rolled, trapping him and his partner inside.

Officers smashed the patrol car's windscreen to drag Sen Const Forte to safety, but it was too late. 

Maddison was later shot dead after being warned to surrender more than 80 times during a 20-hour siege.

Mr Ryan described the absence of an overall tactical command during the police pursuit of Maddison as a "significant failure of leadership".

"Unfortunately the confrontation was left to evolve on Mr Maddison's terms," he said.

"Snr Const Forte and Snr Const Nielsen were ... sitting ducks."

Mr Ryan said officers in pursuit would have known Maddison was "undoubtedly dangerous" but described someone opening fire on Queensland police with a machine gun as unprecedented.

He said officers were not wearing ballistic vests, but it may not have prevented Sen Const Forte's death.

The inquest that started in 2021 had heard the Toowoomba tactical crime squad had been looking for Maddison, while Gatton police had received reports of automatic gunfire in the area before the shooting.

But Mr Ryan said a more proactive approach by Gatton police could have led to Maddison's arrest before the shooting.