Hunt for new top cop with Ashton to finish up at end of June
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton will step down at the end of next month, with his successor expected to be a local, appointed from within the ranks of the existing senior command.
After seriously considering extending Mr Ashton’s five-year term for several months until the coronavirus crisis stabilised, the state government has decided to press on with interviews to find his replacement.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton with Police Minister Lisa Neville at a media conference in February.Credit:Paul Jeffers
The decision was confirmed on Friday afternoon when all police were notified by internal email.
On Neil Mitchell’s 3AW program earlier this week, Police Minister Lisa Neville praised Mr Ashton’s performance during the health lockdown and his leadership following the death of four officers on the Eastern Freeway last month.
The recruiting panel will interview overseas candidates via video conferencing.
Former deputy commissioner Sir Ken Jones, who resigned after falling out with then chief commissioner Simon Overland, applied for the job but is unlikely to make the shortlist.
It is understood the government favours a local, most likely to be selected from deputy commissioners Shane Patton, Wendy Steendam and Rick Nugent along with Counter Terrorism Assistant Commissioner Ross Guenther.
Mr Patton is considered the frontrunner, and the final decision is expected to be made within weeks.
Mr Patton has been responsible for rolling out a series of hard-line policies, including hostile vehicle rules, allowing police to ram or shoot the driver of a vehicle that could be used as a weapon against the public.
He also rolled out the use of long-arm rifles to general duties police supervisors around the state.
Deputy Commissioner Shane PattonCredit:Daniel Pockett
The new chief commissioner is likely to extend some of the practices developed during the lockdown, including closing many police watch-house counters, increasing patrols and improving visible police presence.
Mr Ashton’s successor will have a record number of officers as part of the government promise to provide an extra 3000 sworn police in this term.
Last month, as the economic consequences of the virus shutdown bit, there was a record number of applicants to join the police force.