Top cop pulls trigger, says he won't last years in job

The outgoing boss of one of the nation's biggest police forces says he doesn't have what it takes to commit to the top job after spending less than six weeks in the role. Login or signup to continue reading Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent revealed he will not apply for a five-year term in the position, with the race on to find the force's third top cop this year. He stepped into the job in February at a time of immense turmoil for the organisation in the days after union members passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of his predecessor Shane Patton.

Mr Nugent, 60, insisted he was not "too tired" and claimed when he took on the interim role he said he might not apply for the ongoing job. "There is lots of change needed which is normal for any organisation and every time I got to thinking about five years in the role, I just wasn't certain that I could give it that," Mr Nugent told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday. "You need someone that is able to actually had that energy in that drive for five years, I've got it now but I just know deep down that I don't have it for five years.



" He said it wasn't an easy decision to make after decades of public service, which includes a stint as Victoria Police deputy commissioner and Emergency Management Commissioner. 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 the allegations, saying Mr Paterson was politicising the role of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). 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 claims and has denied any wrongdoing.

"I'm disappointed that there's an IBAC investigation, obviously, but I am completely comfortable with, I'm satisfied that I have not committed any crime or breached any policies," he said. A spokesperson for the commission said it does not comment on whether it has a complaint or investigation before it. Ms Allan on Wednesday failed to take any responsibility for the events, refused to concede there were issues within the force and rejected Mr Patton had been thrown under the bus by her government.

"That's incorrect," she said. The premier said she was not aware of the conflict of interest allegation when Mr Nugent was appointed and he had shown interest in the permanent job. "He's been upfront about his reasons for reconsidering and deciding not to apply for the role," Ms Allan said.

"That demonstrates that behind every police uniform is a person." Despite Mr Nugent reportedly telling the government he wanted out within days, Ms Allan said he would remain until the full-time replacement was sworn in. Applications for chief commissioner close on Friday.

Opposition Police spokesperson David Southwick called for an independent process to appoint the next chief commissioner "free from political interference". "The Allan government's secrecy and mismanagement have created deep instability in Victoria Police at a time when public confidence is already at breaking point," he said. The latest switch up follows a tough time for the force, spending 18 months locked in a pay dispute with its members, low morale and officers dropping out in high numbers.

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