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
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term began | Term ended | Time in office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Sir William Mitchell | 3 January 1853 | 24 January 1854 | 1 year, 21 days | [9][10] |
| 2 |  | Sir Charles MacMahon | 15 February 1854 | 17 July 1858 | 4 years, 152 days | [13][14] |
| 3 | _(A).jpg) | Frederick Standish | 3 September 1858 | 1 October 1880 | 22 years, 28 days | [7][8] |
| 4 | .jpg) | Hussey Chomley | 6 March 1882 | 27 March 1902 | 20 years, 21 days | [15][16] |
| 5 | .jpg) | Thomas O'Callaghan | 1 April 1902 | 31 March 1913 | 10 years, 364 days | [17][18] |
| 6 |  | Alfred Sainsbury JP | 1 April 1913 | 28 February 1919 | 5 years, 333 days | [19][20] |
| 7 | .jpg) | Sir George Steward KBE CMG VD JP | 1 March 1919 | 11 May 1920 | 1 year, 71 days | [21][22] |
| 8 |  | Sir John Gellibrand KCB DSO & Bar | 1 September 1920 | 7 February 1922 | 1 year, 159 days | [23][24] |
| 9 |  | Alexander Nicholson | 8 February 1922 | 10 August 1925 | 3 years, 183 days | [25][26] |
| 10 |  | Sir Thomas Blamey GBE KCB CMG DSO ED | 1 September 1925 | 9 July 1936 | 10 years, 312 days | [27][28] |
| 11 |  | Alexander Duncan CMG | 14 February 1937 | 30 December 1954 | 17 years, 319 days | [29][30] |
| 12 |  | Selwyn Porter CBE DSO LVO ED | 1 January 1955 | 9 October 1963 | 8 years, 281 days | [31][32] |
| 13 |  | 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 |  | Neil Comrie AO APM | 4 January 1993 | 9 March 2001 | 8 years, 64 days | [41][42] |
| 19 | .jpg) | Christine Nixon AO APM | 23 April 2001 | 27 February 2009 | 7 years, 310 days | [43][44] |
| 20 | .jpg) | 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 |  | Shane Patton APM | 27 June 2020 | Incumbent | 3 years, 287 days | [48] |