Peter Marshall (police commissioner)
Encyclopedia
Peter Brendon Marshall, MNZM (born c. 1953) is the current New Zealand
Commissioner of Police
. The New Zealand Government appointed Marshall as Commissioner for a three-year term beginning 4 April 2011. He was previously Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Marshall is a career police officer who joined the New Zealand Police
in 1972, and has worked both in uniform and as a detective with the Criminal Investigation Branch
. Within New Zealand, he has served as head of the Hawkes Bay Armed Offenders Squad
, and Area Commander in Hastings
and Auckland City
. Internationally he has been posted to the New Zealand diplomatic missions in Canberra
from 1998 to 2002, and Washington, D.C.
from 2002 to 2004, where he established a New Zealand Police liaison office for counter-terrorism. He was then Assistant Commissioner at the Police National Headquarters in Wellington
, before being seconded to the Solomon Islands
in February 2007. In May 2008 he became acting Commissioner of Police in the Solomons, and was officially appointed to the position in March 2009. While in the Solomons he was subjected to a home invasion
by a group of thirteen people armed with machetes, but was able to defend himself and his wife with a steel ceremonial sword.
In April 2011, Marshall became the Commissioner of the New Zealand Police, and announced he would put a taser
in every frontline vehicle, but would not be changing the policy that officers do not ordinarily carry firearms.
Marshall has diplomas in Business Studies and New Zealand Policing, and is a graduate of the FBI Academy
. He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Commissioner of Police
Commissioner of Police (New Zealand)
The Commissioner of Police is the head of the New Zealand Police. The Commissioner is appointed for a three-year term by the Governor-General, and reports to the Minister of Police. The position combines two functions, that of chief constable in charge of policing and cases, and chief executive...
. The New Zealand Government appointed Marshall as Commissioner for a three-year term beginning 4 April 2011. He was previously Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Marshall is a career police officer who joined the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
in 1972, and has worked both in uniform and as a detective with the Criminal Investigation Branch
Criminal Investigation Branch
The Criminal Investigation Branch is one of the main branches of the New Zealand Police and it is dedicated to investigating and solving serious crime, and targeting organized crime and recidivist criminals. The CIB has existed since the civil Police Force was formed in 1886 by the Police Force...
. Within New Zealand, he has served as head of the Hawkes Bay Armed Offenders Squad
Armed Offenders Squad
The Armed Offenders Squad is a specialist unit of the New Zealand Police designed to "cordon, contain and appeal to" armed and dangerous offenders. As the name explains, they are called upon when conflict with an armed offender has occurred or is considered imminent.The AOS draw upon a varied...
, and Area Commander in Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
and Auckland City
Auckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
. Internationally he has been posted to the New Zealand diplomatic missions in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
from 1998 to 2002, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 2002 to 2004, where he established a New Zealand Police liaison office for counter-terrorism. He was then Assistant Commissioner at the Police National Headquarters in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, before being seconded to the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
in February 2007. In May 2008 he became acting Commissioner of Police in the Solomons, and was officially appointed to the position in March 2009. While in the Solomons he was subjected to a home invasion
Home invasion
Home invasion is the act of illegally burgling or entering a private and occupied dwelling for the purpose of committing a crime Home invasion is the act of illegally burgling or entering a private and occupied dwelling for the purpose of committing a crime Home invasion is the act of illegally...
by a group of thirteen people armed with machetes, but was able to defend himself and his wife with a steel ceremonial sword.
In April 2011, Marshall became the Commissioner of the New Zealand Police, and announced he would put a taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
in every frontline vehicle, but would not be changing the policy that officers do not ordinarily carry firearms.
Marshall has diplomas in Business Studies and New Zealand Policing, and is a graduate of the FBI Academy
FBI Academy
The FBI Academy, located in Quantico, Virginia, is the training site for new Special Agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was first opened for use in 1972 on 385 acres of woodland. It is a relatively small government academy, housing three dormitory buildings and...
. He was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours.
External links
- Biography at the New Zealand Police website
- TV3 interview