Northern Territory children's commissioner Colleen Gwynne has been charged with abuse of office.
The charge, which applies to public officers, relates to alleged "arbitrary and prejudicial conduct", according to NT Police.
The matter was initiated and investigated by the NT Police special references unit.
The abuse of office charge Ms Gwynne is facing has a maximum penalty of imprisonment for three years.
She is due to appear in court on August 27.
Before Ms Gwynne became the NT children's commissioner in 2015, she was the lead detective in the investigation into Peter Falconio's disappearance in 2001.
That investigation led to Bradley John Murdoch's murder conviction.
Ms Gwynne has been contacted for comment.
