WA Premier Mark McGowan has announced Police Commissioner Chris Dawson as the 34th governor of Western Australia.
Mr Dawson was appointed commissioner in 2017 and led the force throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including overseeing the state's hard borders and travel restrictions.
Mr McGowan said he had been "instrumental" in handling the pandemic in WA, both as the State Emergency Coordinator and previously the state's vaccine commander.
Mr Dawson will succeed current Governor Kim Beazley later this year.
'An exemplary West Australian'
In announcing Mr Dawson's appointment, the Premier noted his 46 years of "dutiful service" to the state, after he joined the police force at the age of 17.
"He's an exemplary Western Australian of the utmost integrity and the highest character," Mr McGowan said.
Mr Dawson said it was that service he was looking forward to continuing in his new role, saying he had already enjoyed the "wonderful opportunity" to serve WA through the police force.
"I'm obviously honoured, but I'm also very much looking forward to being able to continue my service to the people of Western Australia," he said.
"I love Western Australia and its people."
Kim Beazley lauded
Both Mr Dawson and Mr McGowan also thanked outgoing Governor Kim Beazley for his work in the four years since he was appointed to the role.
The Premier said when Mr Beazley was appointed in 2018, he had reflected on his ability as a natural leader and advocate for the state.
"I am proud to say that Governor Beazley fulfilled that promise and so much more," he said.
"He has worked tirelessly to promote WA around Australia and around the world.
"Commissioner Dawson has big shoes to fill, but I'm confident just as he has across a long career of public service, he'll once again rise to the occasion."
Mr Dawson thanked Governor Beazley, and his wife Susie Annus, for the "grace and distinction" they brought to the role.
"As Western Australians we should all be grateful for their devotion to duty and their important advocacy and support of a broad range of organisations and communities while performing the executive and constitutional roles," he said.
A former federal Labor leader and US ambassador, Mr Beazley was appointed as governor in 2018.
At the time, Premier Mark McGowan described him as "one of WA's most respected citizens".
Mr Beazley spent almost 30 years in federal politics, including twice as opposition leader and was ambassador to the United States between 2010 and 2016, before returning to Australia to work for a number of policy and strategy think tanks.
Cleo Smith a career highlight
Commissioner Dawson joined WA Police in 1976, and was appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2004.
In 2011, he was responsible for overseeing security at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which saw 53 heads of state, as well as the Queen, spend time in Perth.
Between 2014 and 2017, Mr Dawson served as the head of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, as well as working as the director of the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Reflecting on his time at the helm of WA Police, Commissioner Dawson said restructuring the organisation to take on a more "values-based approach" and seizing record amounts of methylamphetamine were highlights.
"Probably one singular highlight is finding [missing four-year-old] Cleo [Smith]," he said.
Throughout the pandemic, Commissioner Dawson spoke of enforcing restrictions by "policing with consent".
He often referenced the "knucklehead rule", saying "if you act like a knucklehead you will be treated like one".
The search for his replacement as Commissioner will start in coming days, but Mr Dawson said continuing to gain the trust of the community through that style of policing would be important.
Reflecting on the opportunity ahead of him, Mr Dawson said fostering young leaders would be a particular focus.
Mr McGowan said Mr Dawson would be sworn in sometime in July.
