Cecil Abbott

Cecil Roy "Cec" Abbott, AO, QPM (7 August 1924 – 12 March 2014) was the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police in Australia from 30 December 1981 to 7 August 1984.^[1]

Cecil Abbott AO, QPM
16th Commissioner of the New South Wales Police
In office 30 December 1981 – 7 August 1984
Preceded by	Jim Lees
Succeeded by	John Keith Avery
Personal details
Born	7 August 1924 Hurstville, New South Wales
Died	12 March 2014(2014-03-12) (aged 89) Hurstville, New South Wales
Spouse	Edna
Alma mater	Sydney Technical High School
Relatives	Les Abbott (brother)

Private life

Cecil Roy Abbot was born in Hurstville on 7 August 1924 and grew up in Hurstville.^[2][3] He married Margaret Edna Robinson on 15 February 1947. They had one son, Paul, who also became a police officer.^[4] Abbott died in St George Hospital in Kogarah on 12 March 2014.^[5] His funeral was held in Penshurst, New South Wales. Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione attended and described Abbott as a "man of the utmost integrity".^[3]

Police career

Abbott became a police cadet in 1941 and graduated to the New South Wales Police Force in 1945. By 1974 he was an inspector at Hurstville.^[3][4] He climbed further through the ranks to be Commissioner of Police for the New South Wales Police and the most powerful police officer in the State of New South Wales.^[5]

Honours

• On 31 December 1976, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) "In recognition for services to the New South Wales Police".^[6]
• On 11 June 1982 he was awarded the National Medal.^[7]
• On 26 January 1985 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for "Public service particularly with the New South Wales Police Force".^[2]