2 days Ago By Rachael Ward
One of Australia's biggest police forces will get its third top cop this year after the acting boss revealed he is not gunning to stay in the role. Login or signup to continue reading Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent will not apply for the five-year term in the permanent position, citing the "always on, never off" demands of the job. "I cannot say, hand on heart, that I have it in me to fulfil the duties of this office for the full five years," Mr Nugent said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
"It is simple yet unavoidably true. Life is short and there are other passions and opportunities that I wish to pursue." Applications for chief commissioner close on Friday.
Mr Nugent said he would work with the government to determine how long he stayed in the acting role. He started the job in February after the departure of former chief commissioner Shane Patton, who resigned after union members passed a a no-confidence motion in his leadership. Mr Nugent did plan to apply for the ongoing role and it is unclear when he changed his mind.
"The job of chief commissioner demands an exceptional candidate," Mr Nugent said. "It requires the strongest capabilities and a commitment to go the distance". Mr Nugent was previously the Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner, but it's not known if he will return to the organisation.
In March, former deputy police commissioner Neil Paterson accused Mr Nugent, Premier Jacinta Allan, Police Minister Anthony Carbines and department secretary Jeremi Moule of "corruption and misconduct". Mr Paterson's allegations reported to the state's anti-corruption commission relate to how and when the government approached Mr Nugent to take on the police chief role. Ms Allan in March dismissed his allegations, saying Mr Paterson was politicising the role of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
The Herald Sun reports a separate complaint was made to IBAC accusing Mr Nugent of "inappropriate conduct involving a conflict of interest" as a commissioner between 2016 and 2023, when he left to become the Emergency Management Victoria boss. Mr Nugent rejected the allegations. "I want to be completely clear about media reporting this morning about complaints that have been made to IBAC," he said on Wednesday.
"These allegations are entirely wrong and I look forward to meeting with IBAC to resolve these issues as quickly as possible." The Victorian government has been contacted for comment. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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