NEW COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1916, Page 7

NEW COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

SUPERINTENDENT O'DONOVAN. It is officially stated that Superintendent O'Doiiovait, of Wellington, has been appointed Commissioner of Police Superintendent J. O'Donovnn entered the police force at Wellington in March, 1870, and served in Wellington as a constable until 1894, when he was transferred to Stratford. He remained at the country station for three years. In 1897, after Commissioner Tunbridge had .been given ■control of the Police Force, Mr. O'Donovan was raised to the rank of sergeant, and transferred to Havvera. Two months later the Commissioner visited Haw era, and in May of that year Mr. O'Donovan was brought to Wellington, where lie served for a period as section sergeant. Later Commissioner Tunbridge determined to establish a training depot for police recruits at the Mount Cook Police Station, and he selected Mr. O'Donovan as instructor. The duties included the giving of instruction in police and law subjects, as well as physical and military 3 rill, and Mr.. O'Donovan was specially equipped to undertake this work, as lie had qualified as a, solicitor of the Supreme Court. Mr. O'Donovan's next step came after the retirement of Inspector P. Pender, when lie became a sub-in&pector at the Lambton Quay Station. He remained there until June, 100S, and then went to Palmerston North until February, 1911, when lie was promoted to the rank of inspector and transferred to Invercargill. In June, 1912, he took charge of the Napier district, and later he was promoted to the rank of superintendent and placed in j cliargo of the Dunedin district. He re-! mained at Dunedin until November, 1015, wl'icn lie was appointed to take charge of the Wellington district in succession to Superintendent Ellison, who retired on superannuation. Superintendent O'Donovan lias an exceptionally good record of service in the Force, and his unvarying courtesy and consideration 'have made him a most popular official.