List of commissioners of the Western Australia Police Force

The Western Australian Police Commissioner is the head of the Western Australia Police Force. The rank of Commissioner was formalised in 1887; prior to then the rank of Superintendent was more commonly used.[1][2]

Western Australia Police commissioners
Term Name References
1853–1856 John Augustus Conroy
1856–1857 Frederick Palgrave Barlee [3][4][5]: 127 
1857 William Hogan [6]: 1503 
1857–1858 Alfred Hawes Stone [7]: 2956 
1858 Charles Symmons [7]: 2999 
1858–1860 Alexander Thomas Cockburn-Campbell [5]: 585 
1861–1866 William Hogan [8][6]: 1503 
1866–1867 Robert Henry Crampton [5]: 702 
1867–1871 Gustavus Edward Cockburn Hare [6]: 1364 
1871 William Henry Timperley [9][7]: 3070 
1871–1887 Matthew Skinner Smith [10][11][7]: 2872 
1887–1900 George Braithwaite Phillips [12][13][14]: 2479 
1900 William Chipper Lawrence [14]: 1815 
1900–1912 Frederick Arthur Hare [6]: 1363 
1912–1933 Robert Connell [15][5]: 618 
1933–1934 William Douglas [16]
1934–1945 David Hunter [17]
1945–1951 John Doyle [18]
1951–1958 Thomas Herman Andersen [19]
1958–1965 James O'Brien
1965–1971 Richard Napier
1971–1975 Athol Wedd
1975–1981 Owen Leitch
1981–1985 John Porter
1985–1994 Brian Bull
1994–1999 Robert (Bob) Falconer [20]
1999–2004 Barry Matthews
2004–2017 Karl O'Callaghan
2017–2022 Chris Dawson
2022– Col Blanch [21][22][23]

References

  1. ^ "WA Police Commissioners". Western Australia Police Force. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Commissioners - Western Australia". Australian Federal Police. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  3. ^ Honniball, J.H.M. (1969). "Barlee, Sir Frederick Palgrave (1827–1884)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 3. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  4. ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). "Barlee, Sir Frederick Palgrave". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  5. ^ a b c d Rica Erickson (1987). The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians: pre-1829 – 1888. Vol. 1 A–C. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 0 85564 270 X. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Rica Erickson (1988). The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians: pre-1829 – 1888. Vol. 2 D–J. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 0 85564 273 4. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Rica Erickson (1988). The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians: pre-1829 – 1888. Vol. 4 R–Z. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 0 85564 277 7. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  8. ^ Kimberley, Warren Bert (1897). "Chapter 17". History of West Australia – via Wikisource.
  9. ^ Erickson, Rica (1976). "Timperley, William Henry (1833–1909)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 6. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  10. ^ Conole, Peter (2005). "Smith, Matthew Skinner (1836–1887)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. Supplementary Volume. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  11. ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). "Smith, Captain M. S.". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  12. ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). "Phillips, Major George B.". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  13. ^ Kimberley, Warren Bert (1897). "George Braithwaite Phillips". History of West Australia – via Wikisource.
  14. ^ a b Rica Erickson (1988). The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians: pre-1829 – 1888. Vol. 3 K–Q. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 0 85564 276 9. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  15. ^ McArthur, T.J. (1993). "Connell, Robert (1867–1956)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  16. ^ "William Archibald Douglas". Northern Times. Carnarvon, Western Australia. 26 November 1934. p. 3. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Police Commissioner : Inspector D. Hunter Chosen". The West Australian. Perth, Western Australia. 6 December 1934. p. 18. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  18. ^ "New W.A. Police Chief Known Here". The News. Adelaide, South Australia. 20 January 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Mr. T.H. Andersen chosen as Police Commissioner". The West Australian. Perth, Western Australia. 28 February 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  20. ^ Police, Western Australia. "Our History". Western Australia Police. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  21. ^ Thompson, Holly (14 June 2022). "'A cop through and through': Meet the new WA Police Commissioner". WAtoday. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  22. ^ Bourke, Keane (14 June 2022). "WA Police deputy Col Blanch named new commissioner, replacing Chris Dawson". ABC News. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  23. ^ "New Commissioner of Police announced". Western Australia Police Force. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.