Baillieu government starts search for new police commissioner



ACTING Chief Commissioner Ken Lay remains the frontrunner to replace Simon Overland as Victoria’s top cop.


But the decision may not be made for months. Mr Lay yesterday confirmed he had applied for the post but conceded that the job had its challenges.

Applications for the position closed yesterday, with the Baillieu government declaring a big field of starters from across Australia and overseas.

The government will favour a big shift from the past two holders of the job, Mr Overland and Christine Nixon.

Both had spectacular falls.

Mr Overland quit after a protracted conflict with the government and Ms Nixon was excoriated by the Black Saturday royal commission for leaving her post at the height of the disaster to go to dinner with friends.

Police Minister Peter Ryan said Mr Lay and others would be viewed on their merits.

“We are in no rush to do this,” he said, but added that he wanted the new commissioner in place by the end of the year.

Mr Ryan has not said who would be on the selection panel, but indicated members could come from outside of government.

The choice of police chief will be crucial for the government, whose law-and-order agenda is under siege.

Former police adviser Tristan Weston was caught in an Office of Police Integrity investigation and parliamentary secretary for police Bill Tilley is accused of leaking information relating to the Overland saga.

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