Scott Lee, a four-decade veteran, has been appointed Chief Police Officer. He succeeds Neil Gaughan, who retired in February, and has been acting CPO since then.

Deputy Commissioner Lee said he was honoured to be the 17^th person to lead ACT Policing since the Australian Federal Police was founded in 1979.

“Canberra is my home, and has been my home and my family’s home for 20 years,” DC Lee said.

DC Lee joined the Australian Federal Police in 1985. Formerly Assistant Commissioner of Counter-Terrorism and Special Investigations Command and of Cyber Command, his experience includes investigating terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, organised fraud, human trafficking, child sex offences, people smuggling, and foreign interference.

“I am looking forward to the significant responsibility that comes with leading more than 1,000 people who work day and night to serve the Canberra community and keep them safe,” DC Lee said.

His priorities include police officers’ health and wellbeing, having the right facilities for them to work in, and being the best policing operation in the country.

Two police stations, in Gungahlin and Civic, recently closed; the ACT Government will announce its plans for a new headquarters soon.

Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Police and Crime Prevention, predicted that DC Lee’s “depth of policing experience will be a great asset in leading our police force into the future”.