Drew Harris
Jeremy Andrew Harris, OBE, QPM (born 5 April 1965) is the current Garda Commissioner of Ireland since September 2018. He previously served as Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from 2014 to 2018.[3][4]
Drew Harris OBE QPM | |
---|---|
21st Garda Commissioner | |
Assumed office 3 September 2018 | |
Preceded by | Dónall Ó Cualáin (Acting) |
Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI | |
In office 13 October 2014 – 3 September 2018 | |
Chief Constable | George Hamilton |
Preceded by | Judith Gillespie |
Succeeded by | Mark Hamilton |
Personal details | |
Born | Jeremy Andrew Harris[1] 5 April 1965[2] Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Spouse(s) | Jane Harris (m. 1988) |
Relations | Alwyn Harris (Father) |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
Biography
Harris has served as a police officer since joining the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in 1983. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI in October 2014.[3]
His father, Alwyn Harris, was a senior RUC officer who was killed by the Provisional IRA in 1989.[2]
Following an international selection process which included a salary increase to €250,000 to attract interest,[4] Harris was announced as the new Garda Commissioner on 26 June 2018, becoming the first Commissioner to be appointed from outside of the Garda Síochána.[5] He took over the leadership of the Garda Síochána from Dónall Ó Cualáin, who had served as acting Garda Commissioner since the resignation of Nóirín O'Sullivan in September 2017, following a number of Garda scandals.[6] His appointment as Garda Commissioner is for five years.[4]
He is married with four children and holds a master's degree in Criminology from the University of Cambridge.[3]
References
- "Issue No. 60" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 27 July 2018.
- "Profile: Drew Harris of the PSNI". Belfast Telegraph. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- "Deputy Chief Constable | Police Service of Northern Ireland". www.psni.police.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- Connor, Dyane (26 June 2018). "PSNI officer named as new Garda Commissioner". RTÉ News. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- "PSNI deputy chief Drew Harris appointed as Garda Commissioner". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- "O'Sullivan to retire over 'unending cycle' of scrutiny". RTÉ News. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
Police appointments | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Dónall Ó Cualáin (Acting) |
Garda Commissioner 2018–present |
Incumbent |