Shane Patton’s rise from ‘go-to man’ to top cop
Victoria’s new chief commissioner Shane Patton spent years building a reputation as a “go-to man” when something needed to be “done properly”. So as the force police faces a range of new challenges, plenty are sure he’s the right man for the job.
Police & Courts
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Shane Patton has always been regarded as a very smart copper with a safe pair of hands.
Back in his St Kilda CIB days, fighting crime was a very robust business and some detectives were “hard-chargers who flew a bit close to the sun”, one ex-colleague said.
Patton was always highly regarded but never one for some of the more unorthodox techniques.
“Everyone had their strengths but, among the crew, he was the go-to guy. You knew he’d go down the middle,” the former CIB workmate said.
“If you needed something done properly, Shane got the job. He’s a f...... ripper.”
The same ex-colleague said Patton did not rocket through the ranks but proved himself an increasingly important asset at every stop.
Patton is viewed as having a strong operational background in uniform, as a detective, a prosecutor and internal investigations.
He has navigated some difficult portfolios at the upper-end of the organisation, including a critical phase in counter-terrorism and designing new hostile vehicle and active shooter policies, en route to the top job.
Being a local doesn’t do any harm, either.
A number of appointments from the past 20 years were at the disadvantage of being branded outsiders from the moment they got their feet under the Chief’s desk.
“I don’t think it (the appointment) surprised anyone,” one veteran officer said.
“It’s the logical choice. He’s been everywhere, done everything. I think he’ll be popular with the rank and file.”
The force faces a very different range of challenges to the one Mr Patton joined in 1978.
The threat of terror, widespread chaos generated by methylamphetamine, greater accountability on domestic violence and the emergence of the true level of mental health issues among members have made it a much more complex policing landscape.
More recently, the police informer scandal and COVID-19 have added to the burden.
Those who know him believe he is well-placed to deal with what lies ahead.