Police employee 'found with cache of semi-automatic weapons'
An urgent statewide audit is underway in Queensland for all police firearms after a civilian employee was allegedly found with a cache of semi-automatic weapons.
The extreme measure will also include seized weapons and comes just days out from the Commonwealth Games, police sources told Seven News.
The Queensland Police Service administrative officer has restricted access to a police facility which stores their firearms and seized weapons.
His role at the storage facility includes the destruction of seized firearms and doing inventory of exhibits.
An internal investigation is underway as to whether the weapons were stolen from the storage facility or sourced elsewhere.
Seven News has been told the investigation would include looking at whether the weapons found at the man’s home were court exhibits that were meant to be destroyed.
It is understood some of the firearms seized at his home have had the serial numbers removed.
Police allegedly found an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, two glocks and five other semi-automatic handguns during a search of the man's home early on Tuesday.
The weapons seizure came after he sought medical help for a gunshot wound.
Seven News has been told the man called an ambulance on Monday night saying he had injured his hand with a grinder.
But paramedics allegedly identified the injury as a gunshot wound, which is mandatory to report to police.
Seven News has been told the man had A and B category weapons licences for certain firearms but not semi-automatic weapons.
The man underwent surgery for his injury today.
The QPS Ethical Standards Command is investigating the matter.
In a statement, the Queensland Police Service confirmed they were investigating an incident in which a man sustained a gunshot wound to his hand at a home about 9.30pm on Monday.
“The Ethical Standards Command is investigating as the injured man is a QPS staff member,’’ the statement said.
“The investigation will examine any possible links between the incident and his work with the QPS.”
A QPS spokesman said an urgent audit was being undertaken as result of the incident.
“The investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time," the spokesman said.
The statewide audit is to be completed by Wednesday morning.
