KEY POINTS:
Auckland finally has a new top cop after four years of temporary appointments.
The role has been officially vacant since assistant commissioner Clint Rickards stood down from duty in February 2004 while he faced charges over the Louise Nicholas rape allegations.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad yesterday announced that Counties Manukau district commander Superintendent Steve Shortland would take up a newly created role Assistant Commissioner of Auckland.
It is the first permanent position overseeing Auckland policing since Mr Rickards lost his career in the fallout of his acquittal on all charges.
Mr Broad said the new role was "specifically dedicated to the strategic needs of greater metropolitan Auckland".
Meanwhile, Auckland City Centre also has a new head.
Superintendent George Fraser, at present head of the Southern police district based in Dunedin, will be Auckland's new district commander.
Superintendent Fraser said he was pleased about returning to Auckland, where he has spent most of his 32-year policing career.
He was in charge of Auckland's traffic policing between 1999 and 2002 and worked as an area commander there before moving to Dunedin in 2005.
"Auckland City continues to undergo significant growth and change by any national or international comparison," Mr Fraser said.
"It's economic, cultural and recreational environment, and the events hosted there, are significant in scale and influence.
"I do not underestimate these challenges, but acknowledge that I am fortunate to lead and be part of a committed and dedicated team."
In another change, Waitemata district commander Superintendent Viv Rickard has been appointed Assistant Commissioner of Operations based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor welcomed the changes, saying it had been unfair to have staff relieving for so long, without the authority that came when a person was permanently appointed to a role.
"It's got to be good for Auckland."
But Mr O'Connor said he hoped police bosses, who had acknowledged the need for more administrative staff by creating the new assistant commissioner Auckland role, would also provide a proportionate amount of extra staff on the "ground level".
Police management has not given the start date for the new jobs.
Potential replacements for Mr Rickard and Mr Shortland have not yet been interviewed.
