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Cop charged after allegedly sneaking daughter across border

A serving Queensland police officer will face court after allegedly helping his daughter sneak across the border from NSW.

Sep 23, 2021, updated Sep 23, 2021
NSW politicians are pleading with Queensland not to burst the border bubble. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

NSW politicians are pleading with Queensland not to burst the border bubble. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Senior Constable Robert Eickenloff from the Road Policing and Regional Support Command was on duty when he allegedly helped his 20-year-old daughter cross the border at Tweed Heads-Coolangatta last Friday.

She did not have an exemption to enter Queensland after she arrived in the NSW town of Tweed Heads following a stint working the NSW ski fields at Thredbo and in the ACT.

Her 55-year-old father than allegedly helped her cross into the state, but police at a checkpoint became suspicious and launched an investigation.

The woman has been fined $4135 for entering Queensland in breach of health orders and is now in 14-day hotel quarantine.

Police have now charged the senior constable with misconduct in relation to a public office and he is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 18.

“We have undertaken to inform the public when an officer faces serious allegations of misconduct,” Queensland Police said in the statement.

“This does not mean the allegations against the officer have been substantiated.”

Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said the allegations were “extremely disappointing” but the detection of alleged illegal crossings shows border operations are rigorous.

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“Just because somebody gets across the border doesn’t necessarily mean that they get a free ride,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“We quite often pick up individuals that do provide a version of events which allows them entry into Queensland based on the information provided to officers on those border checkpoints.

“However once they’re in Queensland, further follow up investigations are made. And we have had cases, such as this one, where enforcement action is taken.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the allegations involving the officer were concerning.

“You want everyone to do the right thing,” she told reporters on Wednesday.

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