Police career
Dawson joined Western Australia Police in February 1976 as a cadet. He was promoted to superintendent in 1999. The 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia), 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours saw him receive the Australian Police Medal. Dawson was appointed Deputy Commissioner in July 2004 under Karl O'Callaghan. Dawson led security arrangements at CHOGM 2011. He left Western Australia Police in April 2014 to be Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. He was also Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology. He became the Commissioner of Western Australia Police in August 2017. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dawson acted in a number of roles, including State Emergency Coordinator and Vaccine Commander. Dawson received an honourable send-off on 14 July 2022 at Western Australia Police headquarters after five years as commissioner.Governor of Western Australia
On 4 April 2022, Premier of Western Australia, Premier Mark McGowan announced Dawson as the replacement to Kim Beazley as the Governor of Western Australia, after Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, and the WA Cabinet endorsed Dawson's designation as the Governor of Western Australia, 34th Governor of Western Australia on the same day. He was sworn in on 15 July 2022 and was replaced as Police Commissioner by his former deputy Col Blanch. Dawson was the first police officer to be appointed as the Queen's representative for Western Australia.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Chris Living people Commissioners of Western Australia Police Year of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the Australian Police Medal Governors of Western Australia