Victoria's traffic chief retires - Ninemsn

The last deputy commissioner left untouched by an overhaul in Victoria's police command is retiring, completing a total renewal at the top of the ranks.

Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe, a respected officer with more than 40 years of service, made his retirement decision public on Tuesday.

"The time is right for me and for the organisation," he said in a statement.

"I will certainly be leaving with no regrets at all."

Mr Walshe's departure is the latest change at the top for a police force undergoing major renewal in less than a year.

Ten months ago, Simon Overland was in charge with three deputy commissioners: Sir Ken Jones, Kieran Walshe and Ken Lay.

But both Mr Overland and Sir Ken have resigned amid controversy, Mr Lay has been promoted to the top job and now Mr Walshe will leave also.

The retirement of the 60-year-old, however, is not seen as a surprise by fellow officers.

In 1968, he joined the force as a teenager and has since held positions in fields as diverse as counter-terrorism, emergency management and public order.

On February 7, 2009, he was given the grim task of conducting the first press conference that publicly confirmed the Black Saturday bushfires had killed more than 14 people.

That number would eventually balloon to 173 victims.

After being appointed as head of road safety last year, Mr Walshe revealed his own tragic connection to the state's road toll.

He had been driving a police vehicle in 1971 when it plunged down an embankment, killing his mate, a fellow police officer.

A coroner's inquest delivered an open finding but Mr Walshe said he had struggled with the tragedy for decades.

Police chief Ken Lay paid tribute to Mr Walshe in an email to staff upon news of his retirement.

"He has been a strong and forthright leader, he has been a supportive peer and a loyal deputy," the chief commissioner wrote.

The state government also thanked Mr Walshe for his dedicated service, noting he had carried out his duties "with great integrity".

He will remain the state's top traffic cop until his July 1 retirement.

Victoria Police is expected to announce its new confirmed line-up of deputy commissioners in the coming weeks.

It's not know if Mr Lay will retain three deputies or return to two, as was practice several years ago.

Meanwhile, a detailed report into the structure of police command has been handed into the state government but has not yet been released.

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