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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/06/queensland-officer-gave-daughter-police-escort-to-evade-covid-restrictions-at-nsw-border
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| Queensland officer gave daughter ‘police escort’ to evade Covid restrictions at NSW border | Queensland officer gave daughter ‘police escort’ to evade Covid restrictions at NSW border |
| (3 months later) | |
| Robert William Eickenloff claimed the woman’s paperwork was ‘all good’ as they crossed a checkpoint | Robert William Eickenloff claimed the woman’s paperwork was ‘all good’ as they crossed a checkpoint |
| A Queensland police officer has admitted to escorting his daughter across the state’s border illegally when travel was restricted during the Covid-19 outbreak. | A Queensland police officer has admitted to escorting his daughter across the state’s border illegally when travel was restricted during the Covid-19 outbreak. |
| Robert William Eickenloff, who has since left the police service, was on duty as a senior constable with the road policing command when he rode his motorcycle into New South Wales to accompany his only child across the border at Tweed Heads-Coolangatta in September last year, a Brisbane court was told on Thursday. | Robert William Eickenloff, who has since left the police service, was on duty as a senior constable with the road policing command when he rode his motorcycle into New South Wales to accompany his only child across the border at Tweed Heads-Coolangatta in September last year, a Brisbane court was told on Thursday. |
| His then 20-year-old daughter had applied for special entry into Queensland on 12 September, after months working as a ski instructor in Thredbo. | His then 20-year-old daughter had applied for special entry into Queensland on 12 September, after months working as a ski instructor in Thredbo. |
| At the time, access was restricted to people who lived near the border and had a special purpose to travel interstate. | At the time, access was restricted to people who lived near the border and had a special purpose to travel interstate. |
| Eickenloff – who pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office – was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, to be completed within a year. | Eickenloff – who pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office – was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, to be completed within a year. |
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| The now 56-year-old – who was sworn into the Queensland police in 2004 – had met his daughter in NSW when she approached the border, three days after she made her application. | The now 56-year-old – who was sworn into the Queensland police in 2004 – had met his daughter in NSW when she approached the border, three days after she made her application. |
| “You essentially gave your daughter a police escort through the border checkpoint,” Brisbane district court judge John Allen said. | “You essentially gave your daughter a police escort through the border checkpoint,” Brisbane district court judge John Allen said. |
| Eickenloff told an officer at the checkpoint that he had confirmed the woman’s paperwork was “all good”, so her vehicle was waved through. | Eickenloff told an officer at the checkpoint that he had confirmed the woman’s paperwork was “all good”, so her vehicle was waved through. |
| “It is likely that, had you not intervened to enable your daughter to avoid scrutiny at the checkpoint … she may well have been prevented from crossing the border,” Allen said. | “It is likely that, had you not intervened to enable your daughter to avoid scrutiny at the checkpoint … she may well have been prevented from crossing the border,” Allen said. |
| “Your abuse of your office permitted her to avoid those legal restrictions which were designed to safeguard the Queensland community in the circumstances of Covid-19 transmission at that time.” | “Your abuse of your office permitted her to avoid those legal restrictions which were designed to safeguard the Queensland community in the circumstances of Covid-19 transmission at that time.” |
| Eickenloff’s daughter returned home, but a checkpoint officer made a report saying that from the inside of the woman’s vehicle she appeared to be moving home. | Eickenloff’s daughter returned home, but a checkpoint officer made a report saying that from the inside of the woman’s vehicle she appeared to be moving home. |
| Once the breach of health orders was detected, she was fined $4,135 and put into hotel quarantine for the mandatory two weeks. | Once the breach of health orders was detected, she was fined $4,135 and put into hotel quarantine for the mandatory two weeks. |
| The court was told Eickenloff was concerned about his daughter’s mental state and isolation from family while in NSW. A psychiatrist also found his thinking had been affected by then undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. | The court was told Eickenloff was concerned about his daughter’s mental state and isolation from family while in NSW. A psychiatrist also found his thinking had been affected by then undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. |
| Allen said Eickenloff, as a police officer, had committed a gross breach of the trust placed in him by the community. | Allen said Eickenloff, as a police officer, had committed a gross breach of the trust placed in him by the community. |
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| Many people were affected by restrictions and there were stories of distress due to family members being separated as a result of restrictions, he added. | Many people were affected by restrictions and there were stories of distress due to family members being separated as a result of restrictions, he added. |
| “One might think that those persons who suffered in that manner would be outraged that a police officer entrusted with enforcing such laws used his position as police officer to avoid them.” | “One might think that those persons who suffered in that manner would be outraged that a police officer entrusted with enforcing such laws used his position as police officer to avoid them.” |
| Eickenloff’s barrister Troy Schmidt argued his client’s actions were those of a loving father in unprecedented times who acted as any father would. | Eickenloff’s barrister Troy Schmidt argued his client’s actions were those of a loving father in unprecedented times who acted as any father would. |
| “But the point of the matter … is that not every father could,” Allen said. | “But the point of the matter … is that not every father could,” Allen said. |
| Allen said Eickenloff was emotionally vulnerable in his response to the plight of his daughter partly due to his valuable service to the community as a police officer. | Allen said Eickenloff was emotionally vulnerable in his response to the plight of his daughter partly due to his valuable service to the community as a police officer. |
| Eickenloff was stood down without pay over the incident before resigning in March and has worked for about two months as a bus driver. | Eickenloff was stood down without pay over the incident before resigning in March and has worked for about two months as a bus driver. |