Reginald Jackson (5 April 1913 – 5 August 1989) was an Australian police officer and Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police from 1971 to 1977.

Police career

Early career

Jackson joined Victoria Police in 1934 and served for 44 years, including postings at Mildura,

Malvern Malvern or Malverne may refer to: Places Australia * Malvern, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide * Malvern, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne * City of Malvern, a former local government area near Melbourne * Electoral district of Malvern, an e ...

and South Melbourne as well as the Breaking Squad and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Squad. He was appointed

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 In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

in 1961 and made responsible for police public relations. In 1963 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner and in 1969 Deputy Commissioner. Jackson was also a part president and life member of the Police Association Victoria—the police union—Chairman of the Youth Advisory Panel and a member of the Police Superannuation Board.

Promotion to Chief Commissioner

On the retirement on the grounds of ill-health of Noel Wilby in 1971, Jackson was appointed Chief Commissioner at the age of 58. Jackson held the post until 1977 when he was replaced by Mick Miller. While Chief Commissioner, Jackson maintained his membership of the Police Association Victoria. He was responsible for the acquisition of the

Victoria Police Academy The Victoria Police Academy is the main induction training establishment for the Victoria Police. It is located at 1 View Mount Road, in Glen Waverley, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The grounds encompass 16 hecta ...

Glen Waverley Glen Waverley is a list of Melbourne suburbs, suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the City of Monash local government ...

. Jackson was Chief Commissioner during the Beach Inquiry, established by the Victorian government to investigate corrupt behaviour by police officers relating to illegal abortion activity. The inquiry was unpopular with serving police officers and over 4,000 police officers met at Festival Hall to discuss possible strike action. Jackson addressed the meeting and urged officers to show restraint. At the end of his address, the officers unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Jackson as Chief Commissioner. The meeting put forward a series of demands that were accepted by the government and strike action was averted. Jackson was described as a "Policeman's policeman" and "one of the most popular Chief Commissioners in the history of the Victoria Police force". He died in 1989 aged 75. Jackson was married with three daughters.

Controversy

At the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2015, Jackson's successor Mick Miller testified that he believed that Jackson, while Chief Commissioner, was part of a criminal conspiracy to obstruct an investigation into child sex offences allegedly committed in 1971 in Mildura by Monsignor John Day.

Honours and awards

Queen_Elizabeth_II_Silver_Jubilee_Medal_ribbon

Police Long Service and Good Conduct ribbon

References

1913 births 1989 deaths Police officers from Melbourne Chief Commissioners of Victoria Police Australian recipients of the Queen's Police Medal Australian Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Officers of the Order of St John Australian justices of the peace {{Law-enforcement-bio-stub