Ceremony to farewell Prendergast and welcome new COP today
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer will be among the invited guests to farewell the current Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast and welcome the new Police Commissioner today.
The ceremony will take place at the Rove police club this afternoon.
Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast will officially retire from his duty as Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Commissioner today.
Mr Prendergast appointed as the RSIPF commissioner on August 29, 2014.
According to the Police Media unit the ceremony will also mark the official handing over of sword of allegiance from the outgoing Commissioner to the incoming one and so as taking over of office ceremony.
The new incoming RSIPF commissioner is Matthew Varley is said to be the first AFP Officer at Assistant Commissioner level to be assigned the role of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Police Commissioner.
Recent media report said Mr Varley has an impressive record with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) which he joined more than a decade ago.
He has since breezed through the rank and file of the organisation, working in Sydney, New South Wales as well as AFP’s Liaison Officer based in Singapore and responsible for Brunei and East Timor.
According to his profile, Mr Varley’s top skills include, Law Enforcement, Government, Policy, Emergency Management, Criminal Investigations, Criminal Justice and public policy.
He studied at the University of Adelaide between 2014 and 2017 where he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business.
In 2008, he received a Diploma at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In 2006, Mr Varley graduated from the Emergency Management Australia with a Certificate in Emergency Management, Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management
He also has a Certificate in Applied Management from the Australian Institute of Police Management
In 2004, Mr Varley attended Charles Sturt University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Policing (Investigations) with Distinction, Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing.