The ACT's most senior police officer has quit the force to join the Emergency Services Agency (ESA), in a newly created deputy position formed in the wake of Canberra's devastating summer of bushfires.
Ray Johnson will depart ACT Policing after less than 18 months as its chief police officer, and 35 years with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), to serve as second-in-command to ESA Commissioner Georgeina Whelan.
He will be replaced by AFP Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan, who was acting as AFP Commissioner last year when a News Corp journalist's home and the ABC's headquarters were raided.
New ESA position created after bushfire crisis
Mr Johnson comes to the deputy commissioner position after leading the AFP through a difficult period of cultural reform, following a damning review of its workplace culture.
The new ESA position has been created to support Commissioner Whelan, who was placed under extraordinary pressure in her first season leading the ESA in managing the response to the bushfire crisis in Canberra.
That included tackling the Orroral Valley fire, which burned through roughly a third of the ACT and destroyed homes in New South Wales, and the Beard fire, which threatened numerous properties on the ACT-NSW border.
Mr Johnson will steer a review of the bushfire season, scrutinising the effectiveness of the ESA's response.
The ACT's Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman, said it was his idea to create the new role after Canberra's torrid summer.
"We recognised coming out of the last bushfire season that it was an enormous amount of work for Commissioner Whelan, who did an absolutely marvellous job," Mr Gentleman said.
While she was supported by her chief emergency officers, she lacked a deputy "to support that role should she need to step down for a period of time" or was engaged in operations.
"I'm very pleased to see that Ray Johnson has applied and has been accepted as the new deputy commissioner," Mr Gentleman said.
Commissioner Whelan said she was looking forward to having Mr Johnson join her.
"I'm very excited about the appointment of Ray Johnson to the position of ESA deputy commissioner," she said.
"Ray and I worked closely during the 2019-20 bushfire season; and I know we will make a great team."
Mr Johnson said leaving the AFP after 35 years of service was a "difficult and deeply personal decision".
"I will miss the dedicated people who do such a great job," he said.
"However, I am looking forward to bringing my experience in emergency management to the ESA."
New chief was public face of AFP during media raids
Mr Johnson will be replaced at ACT Policing by AFP Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan.
Deputy Commissioner Gaughan spent part of last year acting in the role of AFP commissioner at the time of controversial raids on News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst's home, and the ABC.
He became the public face of the AFP during the period, fronting press conferences and giving evidence at parliamentary inquiries on the matter.
He will keep his more senior deputy commissioner rank as he steps into the new role of chief police officer in the ACT, a position usually handed to an assistant commissioner.
With a background in counter-terrorism and organised crime, Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said he was pleased to lead ACT Policing's response to coronavirus in the months ahead.
"I feel very privileged to return to community policing at a time of change as ACT Policing modernises its service and tackles crime more proactively," Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said.
"After spending half my AFP career with ACT Policing in general duties and investigative roles, I am focused on working with government and community partners to continue to address recidivist offending and the impact of road trauma."
Deputy Commissioner Gaughan and Mr Johnson will start their new jobs on May 18.
