TASMANIA’S first female Commissioner of Police will take on the new role in October. Deputy Commissioner Donna Adams will take over from Commissioner Darren Hine who will retire from the role after serving for 14 years. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Ms Adams was deserving of the position.

“Donna is a talented professional who has risen through the ranks of Tasmania Police, with a prestigious 35-year career that has seen her awarded the Australian Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Tasmania Police Service Medal for diligent and ethical service and the 2014 Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year,’’ Mr Rockliff said. “Donna also has a Masters of Policing and is extremely well placed to provide exemplary leadership and dedication in delivering high quality policing and emergency services to the people of Tasmania.’’

First joining Tasmania Police at age 19, in 1987, Ms Adams has worked in uniform, criminal investigations and training and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1998 and Inspector in 2004. In 2009, Ms Adams became the first woman promoted to the rank of Commander and in 2011 was appointed to the role of Assistant Commissioner. During her career, Ms Adams has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards including a Commissioner’s Commendation for her work after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre; an Australian Police Medal for Distinguished Service; a Tasmania Police Service Medal for diligent and ethical service; and was recognised by the Australasian Council of Women in Policing as an outstanding investigator. In 2014, she was awarded the Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year, and was inducted on to the Tasmanian Honour Roll in 2019.

In 2021, Ms Adams again made history when she became the first female Deputy Commissioner. Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis said Police Commissioner was a vital leadership role for Tasmania, providing the highest quality policing and emergency management services for the people of our state. “Ms Adams has demonstrated exceptional competence in this field.”

He said Mr Hine had been an exemplary leader and had contributed to keeping Tasmanians safe. “Commissioner Hine is held in the highest regard in Tasmania and across Australia, and the Government recognises and sincerely thanks him for his decades of dedication and strategic leadership.