New police deputy commissioner announced

Mike Bush. Photo / Martin Sykes

Superintendent Mike Bush has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, succeeding Rob Pope, Police Minister Judith Collins announced today.

Mr Bush will work alongside the new Police Commissioner Peter Marshall, who takes over the role on April 4, and Deputy Commissioner - Resource Management, Viv Rickard. Mr Bush's five-year term appointment begins on April 3.

The Governor-General made the appointment on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Mr Bush has been the District Commander for the Counties-Manukau Police District since September 2008.

He has held a wide range of command and operational positions within the New Zealand Police after graduating from the Police College in 1978 and serving in Kaitaia, then Auckland.

In 1995 he was the officer in charge of Interpol at Police National Headquarters in Wellington before being appointed Officer in Charge of the North Shore CIB, and later Crime Manager of Bay of Plenty District.

Between 2003 and 2007 he served as New Zealand Police Liaison Officer for South East Asia, based in Bangkok. Prior to becoming District Commander for Counties-Manukau he was Crime Services Manager for Waitemata District.

Police Minister Judith Collins congratulated Mr Bush and said she looked forward to working with him.

"Mr Bush is a very experienced police officer who brings 33 years' experience in the New Zealand Police to this extremely important position."