Bikie tells cops to rebel, 'apologise'
for crashing funeral
Luke J Mortimer
Luke J Mortimer | 24th May 2016 3:54 PM Updated: 4:32 PM
A GLADSTONE bikie who led the convoy of Harley's to a
funeral last Friday has posted an angry open letter to
Queensland Police on social media, insisting police
apologise.
Chris Hawes -- a Sergeant-of-Arms with the bikie gang
Black Uhlan M.C. who was pulled over by police on his
way to his brother-in-law's funeral -- is calling on
police to break ranks and "contact my family discreetly
to give an explanation or to apologize".
"I'd say you have decent people working in the police
force that would be more than happy to apologize to
James' family and friends who were bullied and harassed
on the day," he said.
"Unfortunately they won't get a chance because of the
standover tactics and bullying [that] is rife amongst
your workforce."
Chris Hawe, Gladstone Sergeant at Arms, Black Uhlans M.C.
Mr Hawes also took aim at Detective Superintendent Mick
Niland for his statement on the incident, first
published in The Observer yesterday, in which he tried
to explain the reason behind the beefed up police
presence.
>> 'Nothing to hide' Bikie demands police apology after
funeral
>> 'Drug driving': Arrests at funeral of man with bikie
links
Det. Niland, also the Commander of Taskforce Maxima, QPS'
anti-bike squad, said two members of the taskforce were
deployed to Gladstone to assist local police in
monitoring the funeral.
He said six people were arrested on drug driving
charges, but a QPS spokeswoman today said clarified that
number, saying it was just four.
But aside from the "he said, she said" hazy facts of
what went on when as many as 30 police officers set up
road blocks and pulled over those on their way to the
funeral, Mr Hawes' biggest wound still remains that he
feels his family was treated differently.
"You say funerals are tricky," he said, referring to Det.
Niland's statement. "What the hell? It's straight
forward."
"Treat any funeral as if it was yours or one of your
family members."
On Thursday Queensland Police said it wouldn't be
commenting further on the story or Mr Hawes' call for an
apology.