Cecil Roy "Cec" Abbott, (7 August 1924 – 12 March 2014) was the

Commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to incl ...

of the

New South Wales Police The New South Wales Police Force is a law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia, established in 1862. With more than 17,000 police officers, it is the largest police organisation in Australia, policing an area of 801,60 ...

in Australia from 30 December 1981 to 7 August 1984. 1.07 MB

Private life

Cecil Roy Abbot was born in

Hurstville Hurstville is a suburb in Southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is south of the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD and is part of the St George, New South Wales, St George area. Hurstville is the administrative centre of ...

on 7 August 1924 and grew up in

. He married Margaret Edna Robinson on 15 February 1947. They had one son, Paul, who also became a police officer. Abbott died in St George Hospital in Kogarah on 12 March 2014. His funeral was held in

Penshurst, New South Wales Penshurst () is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penshurst is located 17 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district it is part of the St George, New South Wales, St George area, and part o ...

. Police Commissioner

Andrew Scipione Andrew Phillip Scipione, (born 31 March 1958) is a former police officer who served as Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, succeeding Ken Moroney on 31 August 2007. He retired from the New South Wales Police Force on 31 March 201 ...

attended and described Abbott as a "man of the utmost integrity".

Police career

Abbott became a police cadet in 1941 and graduated to the

New South Wales Police Force The New South Wales Police Force is a law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia, established in 1862. With more than 17,000 police officers, it is the largest police organisation in Australia, policing an area of 801,60 ...

in 1945. By 1974 he was an

inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia The rank of Inspector is present in all Australian police forces excep ...

at Hurstville. He climbed further through the ranks to be

Commissioner of Police A police commissioner is the head of a police department, responsible for overseeing its operations and ensuring the effective enforcement of laws and maintenance of public order. They develop and implement policies, manage budgets, and coordinate ...

for the

and the most powerful police officer in the State of

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Honours

* On 31 December 1976, he was awarded the

Queen's Police Medal The King's Police Medal (KPM) is awarded to police in the United Kingdom for gallantry or distinguished service. It was also formerly awarded within the wider British Empire, including Commonwealth countries, most of which now have their own hono ...

(QPM) "In recognition for services to the New South Wales Police". * On 11 June 1982 he was awarded the National Medal. * On 26 January 1985 he was appointed an

Officer of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AO) for "Public service particularly with the New South Wales Police Force".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, Cecil 1924 births 2014 deaths Australian recipients of the Queen's Police Medal Commissioners of the New South Wales Police Officers of the Order of Australia People educated at Sydney Technical High School