A once-respected 'larger than life' police officer and sports coach was a pedophile who operated in Tasmania for three decades, grooming his victims, their parents and the small communities they lived in.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams on Tuesday released the interim Weiss Independent Review into former Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds, which found he used his status to groom and abuse children as far back as 1988.
Snr Sgt Reynolds, who worked for a decade after accusations were first raised against him, took his own life in September 2018 while being investigated over child abuse allegations.
The report led by barrister Regina Weiss found he groomed his victims and their unsuspecting parents.
"He was a once-respected police officer within the community, coached football, umpired basketball and at the time of his suicide, was the North Tasmanian Football Association President," the report said.
"He was generally perceived to be a "larger than life" personality and well known to many."
One victim-survivor described him as "just the greatest groomer".
"He was so charismatic everyone wanted to be around him."
The accounts of grooming and abuse told by the victim-survivors, their families and observers were "harrowing, shocking and devastating," the report said.
"What is also shocking is that Paul Reynolds' conduct continued for over three decades despite it being known or suspected that Paul Reynolds was, at the very least, interacting inappropriately with teenage boys."
He was afforded a full guard-of-honour police funeral, despite the force knowing of the allegations against him - a mistake Tasmania Police later apologised for.
Tasmania Police in October announced an independent review into whether Snr Sgt Reynolds used his position to groom and abuse young people.
One participant who was a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a different former police officer told the review that sharing their experience felt like a "40-year-old burden being lifted from my shoulders".
Another victim survivor said sharing their experience with Reynolds "has given me a little bit of closure".
Commissioner Adams said it was distressing to learn that a once-trusted member of Tasmania Police used his role to groom and abuse children as far back as 1988.
"I am deeply sorry for the hurt and suffering you experienced, the on-going impact on you, and that you weren't able to share your experiences before now," Ms Adams said on Tuesday.
The report noted it was clear from the accounts of former and serving police officers "that the shock reverberates throughout the Tasmania Police community".
"It shows the dark side of those people in our community who use their position of trust and power to groom and abuse children and young people."
The final review report will be publicly released in June.
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