ACT Policing - Chief Police Officers

Chief Police Officers

The title 'Chief Officer' was first used by Lieutenant Colonel Harold Edward Jones from 1927 until his retirement in 1943. During his tenure, Jones also held the positions of Director of the Commonwealth Investigation Bureau and the Superintendent of the Peace Officer Guard. Jones' successor, Robert Reid, was appointed solely to head the ACT Police Force (then titled Commonwealth Police (ACT)). Subsequent commanders of the ACT Police Force used the title Commissioner until the force was amalgamated with the Commonwealth Police in 1979 to form the AFP.

The chief police officers from 1927 to 1979 were:

• 1927-1943 Chief Officer Harold Edward Jones
• 1943-1955 Chief Officer Robert Reid
• 1955-1966 Commissioner Edward (Ted) Richards (MVO)
• 1966 Commissioner Leonard (Len) Powley
• 1966-1977 Commissioner Roy Wilson MVO, QPM
• 1977-1979 Commissioner Reginald (Reg) Kennedy QPM

Between 1979 and 1989, community policing operations in the ACT were headed by an AFP Assistant Commissioner. These officers were:

• 1979-1982 Assistant Commissioner Alan Watt
• 1982-1987 Assistant Commissioner Val McConaghy
• 1987-1989 Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester APM
• 1989-1992 Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates APM

During Assistant Commissioner Bates' tenure, at the time of ACT self-government commencement in 1989, the title Chief Police Officer was resumed to denote the head of ACT Policing. Whilst remaining within the AFP command structure, the CPO also became accountable to the ACT Government for policing outcomes in the ACT.

• 1989-1992 Assistant Commissioner Brian Bates APM
• 1992-1995 Assistant Commissioner Peter Dawson APM
• 1995-1999 Commissioner Mick Palmer AO APM
• 1999-2000 Assistant Commissioner William Stoll APM
• 2000-2004 Deputy Commissioner John Murray APM
• 2004-2005 Deputy Commissioner John Davies OAM APM
• 2005-2007 Assistant Commissioner Audrey Fagan APM
• 2007-2010 Assistant Commissioner Michael Phelan APM
• 2010–present Assistant Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg

In 2001, the position and title of Deputy Chief Police Officer was created. The first incumbent, between 2001 and 2002, was Assistant Commissioner Denis McDermott APM, followed by Assistant Commissioner Andrew Hughes APM between 2002 and 2003. Assistant Commissioner Hughes performed the duties of the Chief Police Officer for most of the period between the death of Assistant Commissioner Fagan APM and the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Phelan APM in 2007. Since 2003, the title of Deputy Chief Police Officer has been used by both Commander rank deputies of the ACT Policing Executive.