New leadership team named for Queensland Police Service

Police Minister Judy Spence and Queensland Commissioner of Police, Bob Atkinson, today announced six new leadership positions, including for the first time in Queensland, the appointment of two Deputy Commissioners.

Ms Spence congratulated the newly promoted officers in what is one of the biggest injections of new leadership appointments in years.

“Kathy Rynders and Ian Stewart are the two new Deputy Commissioners. My congratulations to them both.

“In particular I think it is wonderful that Queensland has a female Deputy Commissioner for the first time in our history.

"The appointment of two Deputy Commissioners has been a natural progression.

"Over time the role of Deputy Commissioner in Queensland has expanded to the point where it is too much work for one person.

"New South Wales and Victoria have had two Deputy Commissioners for some time, and Western Australia and the Australian Federal Police have recently moved to two Deputy Commissioners.

"There are nearly 14,000 people in the Queensland Police Service including nearly 10,000 police officers.

"Having two Deputies allows us to split their roles ... one person to manage the operations across the eight regions and one person to manage the support services required to maintain a modern police service.

"This reflects the Government's commitment to matching frontline operational growth with an appropriate and contemporary senior management structure ," Ms Spence said .

Commissioner Atkinson said the newly appointed Senior officers had a diverse range of experience including CIB, Child Protection, General duties policing, Traffic Branch, Drug and Alcohol Policy, Crime Prevention, Administration, Information Technology, Major Projects and Counter – Terrorism.

Kathy Rynders was named as the Deputy Commissioner Operations, while Ian Stewart was named Deputy Commissioner Support Services.

DC Rydners has been Assistant Commissioner in the Metro South Command since 2003, and started her career in general duties in the traffic branch in 1975.

DC Ian Stewart has been Assistant Commissioner of Information and Communications Technology from 2006. He led the Ethical Standards Command from 2004 – 2006.

DC Stewart began his career in the Queensland Police Service in the Brisbane Metro area in 1973, before stints at Townsville, Redcliffe, Gold Coast and the North Coast.

Also announced today were four new Assistant Commissioners following the promotion of the two Deputies and some retirements.

AC Ross Barnett has been Detective Chief Superintendent, State Crime Operations Command since 2007 following a three year stint as Director of Child Safety within the Child Safety and Sexual Assault Crime Group.

Mr Barnett began his service with Queensland Police in 1976 as a Constable in Brisbane.

AC Peter Martin has been Chief Superintendent, Operations Coordinator in the Metro North Region since 2007. Prior to that, he was Superintendent in Brisbane West District and the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff.

Mr Martin began his career in 1981 in Brisbane.

AC Brett Pointing was the Chief Superintendent in the Human Resource Development Branch, and the Director of the Queensland Police Academy 2012 Project since 2007.

Prior to that, Mr Pointing was the Superintendent for the Gold Coast District. He has also had stints in the Stock Squad, the Drug Squad, and spent two years as an inspector in Rockhampton. He started his career as a Constable in Ipswich in 1981.

AC Paul Stewart had been the Chief Superintendent and Project Manager of the QPRIME Project since 2007, and has served several stints as the Director of Media and Public Affairs.

He began his career in the service in 1982 in Brisbane, before stints in the Scientific Section and Forensic Services Branch.

“I congratulate all of the successful candidates on their new positions, and I look forward to working with them as part of the Senior Executive team,” Commissioner Atkinson said.

“I would like to thank all applicants for the positions of Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner. The applications were all of a high standard and the panel had a difficult task.

“The appointment of these six officers means that the Senior Executive of the Service has a good balance of experience and youth. The longer term outlook is excellent and the future leadership and management of Queensland Policing is in safe hands,” Commissioner Atkinson said..

Police Minister Judy Spence said that the qualifications , experience, and abilities of the six new Senior Office appointees was a very positive reflection on the advancement of the Police Service in the post Fitzgerald era.

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