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List of chief commissioners of the Victoria Police

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The chief commissioner of the Victoria Police is the highest-ranking police officer in the Australian state of Victoria. The chief commissioner serves as the primary liaison between Victoria Police, government agencies, and relevant government ministers,[1] and is appointed by the governor of Victoria.[2]

The 1853 Police Regulation Act established the role of chief commissioner, which was first held by Sir William Mitchell.[3] The chief commissioner acts as the chief executive officer and chief constable of Victoria Police, and reports to the minister for police. Under the Victoria Police Act 2013, the chief commissioner has to implement relevant policy and law of the government within the police force, advising and informing the police minister on the operations of the police force, and is responsible for general conduct, performance and operations of Victoria Police.[4] The role is supported by a number of departments, each led by a deputy commissioner responsible for the following areas: regional operations, specialist operations, public safety and security, and capability.[1] The candidate for the role is typically chosen on the advice of the sitting premier of Victoria. The chief commissioner can be appointed for a maximum term of five years and may be reappointed after their five year term expires.[5]

Victoria Police may, in some circumstances, have an acting chief commissioner in place when a chief commissioner has retired and a permanent replacement is being sought.[6] The longest-serving chief commissioner was Frederick Standish, who served from 3 September 1858 to 1 October 1880 for a total term of 22 years and 28 days.[7][8] The shortest-serving chief commissioner was the inaugural holder of the office, Sir William Mitchell, who served from 3 January 1853 to 24 January 1854 for a total term of 1 year and 21 days in office.[9][10] The only woman to hold the office was Christine Nixon. She was also Australia's first female police commissioner.[11] The current chief commissioner, Shane Patton, assumed office on 27 June 2020.[12]

List of chief commissioners

List of chief commissioners of the Victoria Police from 1853 – till date.
No. Portrait Name Term began Term ended Time in office Notes
1
Portrait of Sir William Mitchell
 Sir William Mitchell 3 January 1853 24 January 1854 1 year, 21 days [9][10]
2
Portrait of Sir Charles MacMahon
 Sir Charles MacMahon 15 February 1854 17 July 1858 4 years, 152 days [13][14]
3
Portrait of Frederick Standish
 Frederick Standish 3 September 1858 1 October 1880 22 years, 28 days [7][8]
4
Portrait of Hussey Chomley
 Hussey Chomley 6 March 1882 27 March 1902 20 years, 21 days [15][16]
5
Portrait of Thomas O'Callaghan
 Thomas O'Callaghan 1 April 1902 31 March 1913 10 years, 364 days [17][18]
6
Portrait of Alfred Sainsbury
 Alfred Sainsbury
JP 		1 April 1913 28 February 1919 5 years, 333 days [19][20]
7
Portrait of Sir George Steward
 Sir George Steward
KBE CMG VD JP 		1 March 1919 11 May 1920 1 year, 71 days [21][22]
8
Portrait of Sir John Gellibrand
 Sir John Gellibrand
KCB DSO & Bar 		1 September 1920 7 February 1922 1 year, 159 days [23][24]
9
Portrait of Alexander Nicholson
 Alexander Nicholson 8 February 1922 10 August 1925 3 years, 183 days [25][26]
10
Portrait of Sir Thomas Blamey
 Sir Thomas Blamey
GBE KCB CMG DSO ED 		1 September 1925 9 July 1936 10 years, 312 days [27][28]
11
Portrait of Alexander Duncan
 Alexander Duncan
CMG 		14 February 1937 30 December 1954 17 years, 319 days [29][30]
12
Portrait of Selwyn Porter
 Selwyn Porter
CBE DSO LVO ED 		1 January 1955 9 October 1963 8 years, 281 days [31][32]
13
Portrait of Rupert Arnold
 Rupert Arnold
CBE QPM JP 		15 October 1963 1 February 1969 5 years, 109 days [33][34]
14 — Noel Wilby
LVO QPM 		1 February 1969 5 October 1971 2 years, 246 days [35][36]
15 — Reginald Jackson
CMG LVO QPM JP 		12 October 1971 12 June 1977 5 years, 243 days [37][38]
16 — Mick Miller
AO LVO QPM 		13 June 1977 28 November 1987 10 years, 168 days [39]
17 — Kel Glare
AO APM 		29 November 1987 28 November 1992 4 years, 365 days [40]
18
Portrait of Neil Comrie
 Neil Comrie
AO APM 		4 January 1993 9 March 2001 8 years, 64 days [41][42]
19
Portrait of Christine Nixon
 Christine Nixon
AO APM 		23 April 2001 27 February 2009 7 years, 310 days [43][44]
20
Portrait of Simon Overland
 Simon Overland
APM 		2 March 2009 16 June 2011 2 years, 106 days [45][46]
21 — Ken Lay
AO APM 		14 November 2011 31 January 2015 3 years, 78 days [6]
22 — Graham Ashton
AM APM 		1 July 2015 26 June 2020 4 years, 361 days [47]
23
Portrait of Shane Patton
 Shane Patton
APM 		27 June 2020 Incumbent 4 years, 127 days [48]

References

  1. ^ a b "Structure". Victoria Police. 21 February 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Victoria Police Act 2013" (PDF). Legislation Victoria. 6 April 2020. section 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Victoria Police (including Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police)". Public Record Office Victoria. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ Victoria Police Act 2013, section 16.
  5. ^ Victoria Police Act 2013, Part 1 of Schedule 1.
  6. ^ a b Lay, Kenneth (15 December 2019). "Statement of Kenneth Douglas Lay AO" (PDF). Royal Commission into the Management of Police lnformants. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b O'Shanassy, John (10 December 1858). "Chief Commissioner of Police". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. p. 1858:2488. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Colonial Telegrams". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XXXVII, no. 2032. South Australia. 11 September 1880. p. 28. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ a b Swanton, Bruce; Hannigan, Garry (1985). "Police Source Book 2" (PDF). Australian Institute of Criminology. p. 398. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b O'Callaghan, Thomas (1907). List of Chief Constables, District Constables, Police Cadets, and Police Officers in Victoria : 1836–1907. Melbourne: J. Kemp. p. 20. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023 – via State Library Victoria.
  11. ^ "History of Women in the NSW Police Force". New South Wales Police Force. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Shane Patton named new Victoria Police Chief Commissioner as Graham Ashton prepares to retire". ABC News. 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  13. ^ Foster, John (15 February 1854). "Colonial Secretary's Office". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. p. 1854:513. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  14. ^ Mellor, Suzanne G (1974). "Sir Charles MacMahon (1824–1891)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 5. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Chief Commissioner of Police". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 7 March 1882. p. 1882:603.
  16. ^ "Retirement of Mr. H. M. Chomley". Argus. 29 March 1902. p. 13. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Acting Chief Commissioner of Police". Victoria Government Gazette. Victorian Government Printer. 26 March 1902. p. 1902:1187.
  18. ^ Haldane, Robert. "O'Callaghan, Thomas (1845–1931)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  19. ^ "The Police Force. – New Chief Commissioner Assumes Control". The Age. 1 April 1913. p. 9. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Personal". Warwick Daily News. 2 March 1920. p. 2. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "About People". The Age. 3 March 1919. p. 6. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Death of Sir Geo. Steward". The Age. 12 May 1920. p. 9. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "New Police Commissioner". The Age. 11 August 1920. p. 9. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Police Commissioner. – Sir John Gellibrand Retires on Tuesday". The Age. 4 February 1922. p. 12. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Haldane, Robert (2 April 1982). "The Victoria Police Strike – 1923". The Australian Police Journal. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Police Control – Mr. Nicholson Resigns". The Age. 11 August 1925. p. 9. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Brigadier-General Blamey". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 September 1925. p. 11. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Sir T. A. Blamey Resigns". The Age. 10 July 1936. p. 9. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "New Police Chief Assumes Control Next Sunday". The Age. 3 February 1937. p. 12. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Front Page". The Age. 31 December 1954. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Police Chief Plans for Trainees to Build Force". The Age. 31 December 1954. p. 4. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Many Pay Tribute to Mr Porter". The Age. 10 October 1963. p. 7. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "New Police Chief Rose from Ranks". The Age. 15 October 1963. p. 3. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Wilby, Noel (11 June 1969). Annual Report of the Police Department Victoria, Australia for the Year 1968 (PDF) (Report). A. C. Brooks, Government Printer, Melbourne. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  35. ^ Hopper, Ken (15 January 1969). "Recruit's Rise to Top Job in Police". The Age. p. 3. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Police Regulation (Chief Commissioner) Act 1971". AustLii. Victorian Parliament. 5 October 1971. s. 2 (1). Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  37. ^ Miller, Sinclair (17 November 2015). "Statement" (PDF). Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Birching advocated". The Canberra Times. Vol. 50, no. 14, 798. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 June 1977. p. 12. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ Victoria Police. "A policing legend farewelled". issuu. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  40. ^ Glare, Kelvin (4 May 2021). "Submission to LSIC Inquiry Into Justice System" (PDF). Community Advocacy Alliance. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022 – via Parliament of Victoria.
  41. ^ Haldane, Robert (1995). The people's force : a history of the Victoria police (2nd ed.). Carlton South, Vic., Australia: Melbourne University Press. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-522-84674-4. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  42. ^ The people's force : a history of the Victoria police, p. 567.
  43. ^ "Nixon OAM". State Government of Victoria. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  44. ^ Moor, Keith (27 February 2009). "Christine Nixon fires one more shot before retiring". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  45. ^ "Overland appointed head of Victoria Police". ABC News. 2 March 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  46. ^ Levy, Megan (16 June 2011). "'I wasn't pushed,' says Overland of resignation". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  47. ^ Ashton, Graham (7 September 2020). "Witness Statement of Graham Leonard Ashton AM APM" (PDF). COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  48. ^ "Victoria's Next Police Chief Commissioner Appointed". Premier of Victoria (Press release). 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
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