Qld: "I ve been everywhere man" police appointee

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2000
Qld: "I ve been everywhere man" police appointee

By Barbara Adam

BRISBANE, Aug 17 AAP - Many of Queensland's regional centres can claim newly-appointed
state police commissioner Bob Atkinson as their own, from Goondiwindi on the state's southern
border to Cairns in the far north.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today announced Mr Atkinson would be the state's next
police commissioner from November 1, the day after the current police commissioner, Jim
O'Sullivan, retires.

The premier said Mr Atkinson was the best candidate for the job, because of the experience
gained during his 32-year career in the police service in regional police stations, criminal
investigation bureaux (CIB), forensics, disaster management and in the commissioner's
office.

One highlight of that career was the presentation of the Australian Police Medal in
1995 for distinguished police service.

Mr Atkinson joined the police service as a 20-year-old constable in 1968 and was posted
to Hemmant police station, in Brisbane's east.

The following year, the Brisbane-born boy was transferred to Sandgate police station,
in Brisbane's north, where he worked for four years.

After short stints in the Brisbane city and Fortitude Valley CIBs, he returned to Sandgate
as a detective senior constable in 1974.

In 1977, Mr Atkinson was posted to the CIB on Goondiwindi on Queensland's southern
border as officer in charge.

After Goondiwindi, he spent 12 years on the Sunshine Coast, at the Tewantin-Noosa Heads
police station, the Sunshine Coast CIB and the Sunshine Coast juvenile aid bureau (JAB).

Ten years ago, Mr Atkinson was promoted to the rank of inspector at the Queensland
Police Service's North Coast regional office.

As inspector, he took on several liaison positions, including that of a police adviser
in the police commissioner's office.

In 1994, Mr Atkinson was promoted once again, this time to the rank of superintendent,
and spent two years performing a range of relieving duties in the forensics branch, the
professional standards unit, the disaster and major event planning branch and the commissioner's
office.

In 1997, Mr Atkinson was appointed to the Cairns-based position of Assistant Commissioner
to the Far Northern Region.

Last year, he became the Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support Command, in Brisbane.

Mr Atkinson has two adult children and one grandchild.

His partner, Glenda, is an economist and academic.

AAP bja/sc/arb/bwl

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