Qld police officer to fight assault charge

Controversial Gold Coast police officer Chris Hurley will fight an assault charge when the matter goes to trial later this year.

The senior sergeant appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to one count of common assault.

The charge relates to an alleged on-duty incident in November 2013.

The matter was set down for a summary trial on August 19.

Hurley will also appear in court on May 31 on unrelated matters, including one count of assault after he allegedly pushed an on-duty police officer in the Gold Coast suburb of Robina in February.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said outside court the organisation would support Hurley "every step of the way" in relation to the 2013 incident.

"In relation to the other matters I really make no comment," he said.

Mr Leavers said Hurley, who has been stood down without pay, was finding life very difficult.

"Whenever Chris Hurley's name is mentioned, everything lights up and that will probably be the way for a long time to come," he said.

"He's doing as well as could be expected at this point in time."

Hurley was acquitted of manslaughter in 2007 following the death of a man in custody at the Palm Island watch house in 2004.