Queensland top cop stood down after Cairns road death

Queensland's ethical standards command branch will conduct investigations into the death of a Longreach butcher run over by North Queensland's most senior police officer.

Ryan Savage, 37, was found dead after being trapped under the vehicle of Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor as he drove into the car park of the Cairns police complex early Monday morning.

Police have told AAP the investigation will look at whether the father-of-two was lying unconscious or dead in the down ramp to the car park when he was hit at about 4.20am.

Mr Savage, who was visiting Cairns to celebrate a buck's party, could not be saved as paramedics tried to extricate him from the assistant commissioner's vehicle.

A highly-respected officer, Mr Taylor has been stood down pending the investigation.

Ethical standards officers flew from Brisbane on monday to undertake what is expected to be a long investigation with assistance from Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission.