Robert Atkinson, is an Australian police officer who served as the Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service from 2000 until his retirement in 2012. In 2013, Atkinson was appointed as one of the six Royal Commissioners to the Australian Government Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Career Atkinson was sworn in as constable on 30 October 1968 and there began a 44-year career with the Queensland Police Service, where he performed a wide range of operational and managerial roles. In his career with the Queensland Police Service, he served throughout Queensland from Goondiwindi to Cairns. He was a detective for approximately 20 years and acted as the police prosecutor in various Magistrates Courts during this period. Atkinson oversaw reforms after the Fitzgerald inquiry from 1990 and following the Public Sector Management Commission Review and Report Recommendations of the Queensland Police Service in 1993.

In 1989 Atkinson attended the three-month FBI National Academy Course at Quantico, Virginia, in the United States. He again attended the FBI Academy during 2002 for the National Executive Institute Program. Atkinson graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Graduate Certificate in Police Management; he has also completed the Police Executive Leadership Programme at the Australian Institute of Police Management in addition to studies undertaken at the FBI National Academy. He has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by Griffith University.

Honours and awards

Honours and awards Date awarded Citation For distinguished service to policing and to the community of Queensland, through leadership in law enforcement, community and cultural engagement, improved service delivery and contributions to professional development. Australian Police Medal (APM) 12 June 1995 National Emergency Medal National Police Service Medal with clasp Qld 2010–11 Centenary Medal 1 January 2001 For distinguished service to the public sector. National Medal & 2 Bars 29 March 1985 National Medal National Medal – 1st Bar 2004 National Medal – 2nd Bar; totalling 35–44 years service Queensland Police Service Medal (with relevant years of service clasp) 2010-2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation Queensland

References

External links QPS Welcome Message from the Commissioner