The "horrific" grooming and sexual abuse of more than 50 young boys by a former police officer who used his status to stealthily target his victims over three decades is likely more pervasive, a reviewer concedes.
Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds used his status as a "trusted" member of Tasmania's police force and a "much-loved" community member to groom and abuse up to 52 young boys as far back as 1988, a final independent review into his behaviour found.
Reynolds, who worked for a decade after accusations were first raised against him, took his life in September 2018 while being investigated over child abuse allegations.
The report, led by barrister and former war crimes prosecutor Regina Weiss and released on Thursday, heard from 87 people, among them 15 male victims or their families.
Ms Weiss conceded there were likely many more victims of the pedophile cop who have not come forward.
"I've worked in sexual and gender-based violence for nearly 20 years - some of that in war zones," she said.
"This is the most prolific grooming I have seen perpetrated by one person in my career.
"He was a master at it."
The review found Reynolds used the perception he had power as a police officer to influence the outcome of criminal processes over his victims.
There was no evidence to suggest he interfered with evidence or tampered with investigations, the review said.
On one occasion, Reynolds visited a victim's house with a "likely fabricated" police report, telling the victim he could make the complaint "go away" if he performed a sexual act on him.
"I had never been in trouble with the law, I had kept myself clean and tidy and had always kept my nose clean," the victim told the review.
While Reynolds built up trust and connection amongst the community, earning nicknames such as "top dog", sport was his hunting ground.
He was heavily involved with football and basketball coaching, umpiring and administration, including president of the Northern Tasmanian Football Association at the time of his death.
As a coach, Reynolds was viewed by some as “a father figure and role model” and would offer to the families of teenage boys massages for their children after claiming he had sports massage experience.
Others were offered "special coaching" which unsuspecting parents had no reason to question.
There was no evidence of Reynolds holding accreditation in massage or sports therapy, with one victim believing his motive to serving in high-ranking sports positions was so he could have "unfiltered access to football change rooms".
Reynolds was able to normalise grooming and sexualised conduct stealthily through sexualised conversations and secret-keeping with teenage boys.
The review identified shortcomings among sporting organisations after a report was made to the Northern Tasmanian Football Association board about suspected inappropriate conduct in 2018.
A search of records showed this was not passed on to police or any other agency.
Ms Weiss made five recommendations which the police force has accepted in full, pending two where the government is responsible.
It recommended a redress scheme, a restorative engagement framework for people groomed or sexually abused by officers, a victim management team within Tasmania Police and for the government to make changes to the Integrity Commission Act.
It called for stronger community engagement with police and building trust with sporting organisations to prevent, identify and report grooming and sexual abuse.
Police Minister Felix Ellis said the government would work with Tasmania Police and the commissioner to consider the recommendations.
The opposition called for the urgent strengthening of Tasmania’s Integrity Commission's powers.
The Weiss review made seven referrals to Tasmania Police relating to other former or serving officers and one referral relating to a person who is not an officer.
There is no evidence of child sexual offending by serving officers in the force, the report said.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
