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Victoria is set to recruit a new police boss after an embattled chief resigned days after a majority of his workforce declared no confidence in his leadership.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said on Sunday night that he had advised the Victorian government he had decided to step away from the role “effective immediately”.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision, however I think it is the right one to allow fresh leadership in the role,” he said in a statement.
After more than 45 years of serving the community with Victoria Police, he had “utmost pride” in the organisation.
Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent would step into the role “as soon as practicable” until a replacement was chosen, Premier Jacinta Allan said in a statement on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam AM will lead the organisation temporarily.
Patton started as a police cadet in 1978 and went on to lead the force through significant challenges including the COVID-19 lockdowns.
His contract was due to expire in mid-2025.
“On behalf of the Victorian people, I thank Shane for his long and decorated service and his leadership through challenging times,” Allan said.
The state’s top cop had gone to ground since initially vowing to stay on after a union no-confidence vote was passed on Friday.
Of the 14,571 Police Association members who took part in the online ballot, more than 12,600 – or 87 per cent – did not have confidence he could lead and manage Victoria Police in the future.
Patton said policing was a “fantastic job, rewarding, challenging” that he would “miss immensely”.
He thanked his family and friends for their “love and support over a lifetime of policing” and the Victorian community for “the privilege to have served you”.
“This is the reason I and all police officers turn up each day,” he said.
Patton’s resignation comes after more than a year of negotiations over a new pay deal for police.
The saga has led to more than a dozen stop-work actions and members rejecting a deal agreed to by their own union, The Police Association of Victoria.
A revised pay deal is set to be put to a members’ vote.
