Shane became the 23rd Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police on 27 June 2020. He leads an organisation of over 22,380 staff, including more than 16,450 police officers and 1,470 Protective Services Officers. He manages a $3.8 billion budget and a network of 331 police stations across the state, to deliver the range of operational, forensic, intelligence, policy, training and administrative functions required to keep one of the largest states of Australia safe, secure and orderly.
Shane’s focus is on ensuring police prevent and reduce crime; are visible, accessible and transparent to the community; and that his workforce is supported, decisive and inclusive. Within his first 100 days in the role, he implemented significant leadership and structural changes, including creating a dedicated Public Safety and Security portfolio. He initiated a Service Delivery Transformation program to reform how policing services are delivered to the community and as a member of the State Control Team that oversees the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, assumed responsibility for deploying large numbers of police to hotel quarantine, border control and enforcement duties.
Shane’s current priorities are to embed a new model of policing that focuses police on being visible, accessible and engaged with local communities on their safety and quality of life priorities. He is also driving closer collaboration between the specialist and local policing teams, revising the approach to police involvement in schools, implementing cultural measures and delivering on the recommendations of external reviews, such as the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants.
Shane brings significant experience and expertise to his leadership of Victoria Police. Over the course of his career Shane has undertaken diverse policing roles including operational uniform policing, as a detective in criminal investigations, internal investigations, a criminal prosecutor, public transport safety, traffic, training and education, and all facets of counter terrorism.
Shane’s previous executive roles span:
• acting as Chief Commissioner on six separate occasions between 2016-2019, including leading the response to a vehicle borne attack in the Melbourne Central Business District;
• Deputy Commissioner, Regional Operations, responsible for the four Regions and Transit & Public Safety, State Emergencies & Support, and Family Violence Commands;
• Deputy Commissioner, Specialist Operations, responsible for Crime, Counter Terrorism, Road Policing and Intelligence & Covert Support Commands and the Forensic Services and Legal Services Departments;
• Assistant Commissioner of North West Metro Region, responsible for the City of Melbourne and its major events;
• Assistant Commissioner for State Emergencies & Security Command, responsible for state emergency management, radio and telecommunications, counter terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, state event planning and prisoner management; and
• Chief of Staff to two previous Chief Commissioners, providing high level policy advice and liaising with government.
His achievements include leading the expansion of the State’s Road Safety Camera program, overseeing the lowest ever road toll in Victoria, and driving major reform such as the creation of a Counter Terrorism Command. He has been the State Police Commander for major emergency management responses and counter terrorism operations in Victoria and has progressed significant legislative and operational reform in combatting serious and organised crime.
Shane is a former member of the Victoria Police Australia-New Zealand Counter Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC), Sentencing Advisory Council and Coronial Council of Victoria. Shane was also the National Chair of the ANZCTC Crowded Places Advisory Group sub–committee.
Shane has received several internal commendations and is a Williamson Fellow, ANZSOG and LinCT (Leadership in Counter Terrorism program) alumni. He holds tertiary qualifications, including a Master of Public Policy and Administration and is currently undertaking a Law Degree.
He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and has recently participated in the FBI National Executive Institute leadership program.
Shane is married with two children and his interests include travel, history, reading and sport.
