New Deputy Police Commissioner

Judith Collins has announced:

Viv Rickard has been appointed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Resource Management), Police Minister Judith Collins announced today.

Deputy Commissioner Rickard (Te Arawa, Ngati Porou and Ngati Whare) was previously Assistant Commissioner, National Operations at Police National Headquarters in Wellington.

The Governor-General makes the appointment on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The appointment is for a five-year term which begins today.

“Deputy Commissioner Rickard is a hugely respected Police officer who brings 25 years’ experience, including nine years on the Police Executive, to this important role,” Ms Collins said.

My understanding is that this appointment will be well received by police officers.

Rickard also becomes the first Maori New Zealander to reach the rank of Deputy Commissioner in the Police.