Victoria's top cop Nixon resigns

Australia's first female chief commissioner of police has resigned after a
tumultuous seven years as Victoria's top law enforcer marked by gangland wars and
police corruption scandals.
Christine Nixon on Wednesday announced she would not seek another term but would
stand down from her leadership role at Victoria Police next March.
Speaking to a packed press conference attended also by senior Victoria Police
officers, her husband and parents, a sometimes emotional Ms Nixon praised her
officers for working with her to tackle major crime.
"I'm proud of the efforts of the Purana task force, I'm proud of the efforts of the
armed crime task force, all of our criminal investigators, who have stepped up to a
different way of doing things, so that never again do we have the kind of underworld
issues we had previously," she said.
Ms Nixon, 55, said she was passionate about curbing family violence and sexual
assault and felt those issues had now been put squarely on the agenda.
The ethical standards of the force had also improved on her watch, Ms Nixon said.
"We have pursued those people who are corrupting Victoria Police and we will
continue to pursue those people," she said.
Ms Nixon was sworn in as chief commissioner in April 2001 - the first woman to take
command of an Australian police force.
She presided over a challenging time, coming as a virtual outsider from NSW charged
with reforming the culture of Victoria Police.
"It's taken a great deal of passion and resilience to be the chief commissioner of
Victoria Police," Ms Nixon said.
"It hasn't been a quiet time."
Ms Nixon disbanded the troubled Armed Offenders Squad, and under her command the
Office of Police Integrity (OPI) chased corruption within the force and charges were
laid against a number of officers.
Most recently, she faced criticism for accepting a three-day trip on the inaugural
Qantas A380 flight to Los Angeles, which included free accommodation at the Beverly
Hills Sofitel.
After a media backlash, she eventually said she would personally pay for the trip.
However, she is renowned even by detractors including The Police Association, for
her efforts in fighting Melbourne's gangland wars.
The Police Association on Wednesday gave credit to Ms Nixon for establishing the
anti-gangland task force, but effectively welcomed her departure.
"The Police Association welcomes the opportunity to engage with a new chief
commissioner," assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie told reporters in Melbourne.
"We hope that that new chief commissioner will be a Victorian, because there is much
talent within the senior ranks of the Victorian police force and for the government
to appoint another outsider would be a slap in the face to many of our senior
members."
Premier John Brumby said Ms Nixon was the best chief commissioner Victoria had ever
had.
"I thank her for the way in which she's been able to work with our government," he
said.
Law Institute of Victoria president Tony Burke said Ms Nixon had courageously
undertaken reform of the force.
"She took on the old boys' network, but there is still work to be done," Mr Burke
said in a statement.
He said it was critical the next chief commissioner ensured the integrity of
Victorian police.