ACT police chief Rudi Lammers announces his retirement

Assistant Commissioner Lammers said on Thursday morning he would step down from his role as the territory's chief police officer in December.

"If I could do it all again, I'd do it exactly the same," he said. "I wouldn't do a thing differently."

His departure after more than three years in the top job is set to trigger an extensive national search for a replacement.

Assistant Commissioner Lammers, 57, said he remained as enthusiastic and passionate about his job as the day he started, but it was time to hand the reins to someone else.

"I had the honour and the privilege of having started right here in ACT Policing as a junior constable, and I am equally honoured to be able to finish up at the end of this year as chief police officer of the ACT."

He said his retirement, which would follow the territory's election in November, had been carefully timed to allow him to provide ongoing support to the ACT government and police minister through to the end of the year.

Police Minister Simon Corbell thanked Assistant Commissioner Lammers for his service to the community, saying he had risen through the ranks of the Australian Federal Police to become a significant leader for police in the territory.

"He is truly a Canberra cop. He has been focused on policing here in the ACT for much of his career and that speaks much to his love of this city and his commitment to the work of police here in the ACT."

Assistant Commissioner Lammers, a career police officer who held a law degree, took on the top job in July 2013 following the exit of Roman Quaedvlieg, and went on to become one of Canberra's longest-serving police bosses.

He had joined the AFP in 1982 and spent the vast majority of his career in the ACT in general duties, criminal investigations, on task forces and in support and leadership roles.

In his time as police chief, he had to contest with ongoing cuts to the police budget and handled a highly controversial investigation into the office of former police minister Joy Burch over alleged leaks of sensitive police information.

Assistant Commissioner Lammers on Thursday defended the force's handling of that probe, which was dropped in March, saying police followed correct protocols and investigative procedures, and respected those involved.

"The investigation into then-Minister Burch's chief of staff was conducted professionally, it was conducted thoroughly and it was necessary.

"There is absolutely nothing we would do any differently if we were to do this again."

He also overhauled ACT Policing's response to domestic and family violence and oversaw falling crime rates, significant reforms to the territory's police pursuits policy and restorative justice initiatives, and a crackdown on organised crime and bikie gangs.

Assistant Commissioner Lammers thanked the men and women of ACT Policing, his family for their "unswerving support", the ACT government and Mr Corbell for his long-term partnership and "intimate knowledge of what cops do".

He singled out threats posed by cybercrime and terrorism as priorities for police and his successor and signalled a continued push for polarising legislative reforms, chiefly anti-consorting laws and changes to liquor laws, in the next six months.

Mr Corbell is set to consult with AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin in coming weeks on the process to select a successor, with the next police chief likely to be announced before the territory poll to allow a transition period.

An AFP spokeswoman said Assistant Commissioner Lammers had made significant contributions to the force and the nation through the course of his career through the operations, assignments and events he had been involved in.

"He is an exceptional law enforcement officer and leader, and his efforts have helped shape the modern AFP."

AFP Association president Angela Smith paid tribute to Assistant Commissioner Lammers "good, long career" and his commitment to the ACT's police.

She believed the next police chief should be operationally-focused with a strong and longstanding interest in ACT Policing.