West Australian police chief Chris Dawson will replace Kim Beazley as the state's next governor, having played a lead role in the state's COVID-19 response.
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Mr Dawson, 63, will take office in July, Premier Mark McGowan announced on Monday.
He will become the state's 34th governor, relinquishing his roles as police commissioner and state emergency coordinator.
A former head of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Mr Dawson took over as police commissioner in 2017.
He has overseen the enforcement of border restrictions, vaccine mandates and public health rules during the pandemic.
The premier described Mr Dawson as an exemplary West Australian who had devoted his life to public service.
"It's no secret that the government has relied very heavily upon his work and his officers' work over the course of the last two years during COVID," he told reporters.
Mr McGowan thanked Mr Beazley for his service, saying he had conducted himself with dignity and grace.
The former federal Labor leader, with whom Mr McGowan has a longstanding connection, had reportedly been eager to serve another two years.
"He's done a great job ... he's revitalised the role and made it very much about advocating for Western Australia," Mr McGowan said.
"But eventually your role as governor comes to an end."
The premier approached Mr Dawson about the governor's role late last year.
During his time as commissioner, police notably secured the arrest and conviction of Claremont killer Bradley Robert Edwards.
A major police operation last year led to the rescue of missing four-year-old Cleo Smith, which Mr Dawson described as a career highlight.
Mr Dawson also sought to improve the force's relations with Aboriginal people, issuing a formal apology in 2018 for their historical mistreatment.
He acknowledged that task remained far from finished, with protests held across the country last year after a first-class constable who shot dead an Indigenous woman in the regional town of Geraldton was acquitted of her murder.
"That will need to be continued by the next commissioner and our police force," he said, adding that Aboriginal people were over-represented both as offenders and victims of crime.
"I've seen great steps moving forward but there's much more work that can be done."
Mr Dawson, who joined WA Police as a cadet 46 years ago, said the force had seized record amounts of methamphetamine, leading to a drop in home burglaries.
He will take a six-week period of leave before finishing up as commissioner.
Australian Associated Press
