Cecil Roy ABBOTT

When you are Commissioner of Police you are squarely in the public eye. In times of natural disaster, the media, government and community looks to you. If there is a fugitive on the loose, every move you make is scrutinised. If an officer does the wrong thing – or even does the right thing – your response is awaited; anticipated. Not a day goes by where you are spared judgement. Not a day goes by when you can relax completely, satisfied that you have met all expectations. Only the passage of time affords a measure. And in Cec Abbott’s case, history has him down as one of our state’s finest Police Commissioners. A man of integrity, a man of foresight. A man who, in his time as Commissioner, proved himself a popular and inspirational leader. Cecil Roy Abbott was born in 1924 and grew up in Hurstville Grove, just a few kilometres from where we gather today to remember, to celebrate his life, and to offer our good-byes. Cec, to all who knew him, was educated at Sydney Technical High School and joined the New South Wales Police Cadet Corps in February 1941. Cadet Number 0302, he was just 16 years old. On the 7th of February 1945 Cec was attested to the New South Wales Police Force as a Probationary Constable, performing general duties and motor cycle policing in Darlinghurst. In an interesting insight to that time, entry 2018 on his service register shows that on the 27th of December 1946 Cec was granted “permission to marry Miss Margaret Edna Robinson on the 15th of February 1947”. And we join with Edna and their son Paul today. As well as Cec’s three grand-children Jessica, Chloe, and Micaela, and members of the extended Abbott family. It was in late 1946 that Cec would commence Detective Training, and he performed duty in the Criminal Investigation and Special Branches, rising to the Officer in Charge of the Drug Squad in 1959. At that time the advancement for Squad Commanders was limited to Detective Sergeant First Class, and so in 1974 Cec’s career moved away from criminal investigation duties with a promotion to Inspector, first at Hurstville, and then as Deputy Principal at the Police Academy. In 1977 the now Inspector First Class Abbott lent his expertise to the Woodward Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking. And later to the South Australian Royal Commission into the Non-Medical use of Drugs; as a Liaison Officer. Further promotions followed: to Superintendent in 1978, Assistant Commissioner in 1979, and Senior Assistant Commissioner in 1981. Cec was appointed Commissioner of Police on the 30th of December 1981, the state’s 16th Police Commissioner. And as Commissioner, perhaps one of his proudest days came in 1983 when he attested his own son Paul into the profession he had committed his working life to. His service register lists page after page of letters of appreciation at all stages of his policing career for good work, assistance rendered and for the professionalism he brought to his work. Awards, too, were many. In May 1967 Mr Abbott was awarded the Police Long Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 1976 and later the National Medal in 1982. And on the 26th of January 1985 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contribution to public service, particularly with the New South Wales Police Force. Commissioner Cec Abbott AO QPM retired from office after 43½ years of service on the 6th of August 1984. Cec believed that the ideal police officer married academic accomplishment with street wisdom and experience. A man of the utmost integrity, he fought tirelessly against corruption. He also put his considerable energy towards modernising the Police Force, investing in training and modern equipment. Stressing that criminals don’t stand still, so the police couldn’t afford to either. And it was not just on drug matters that he was a pioneer. In many other ways he was ahead of his time. He was instrumental in forming the Police Undercover Branch and establishing covert police sites. He championed a role for female police in investigative roles. And in the cause of coordinated, effective law enforcement, he worked tirelessly to connect police forces divided by state and national borders We see in today’s Police Force the culmination of many of the initiatives that Cec began. Cec had the rare ability to communicate easily and as an equal with people at all levels. From a member of the public or the police officer on the street, through to those holding the highest of office in Australia and overseas, Cec was equally approachable and giving of his time and experience. And that never changed. Now senior officers fondly recall meeting Commissioner Abbott very early on in their careers, and being struck by how down to earth and genuinely interested in their lot he was. As my summary of his service attests, Cec was also an experienced drug detective for more than 30 years and his name became synonymous with drug law enforcement. When you spoke of the Drug Squad, or of Drug Law Enforcement, you spoke of Cec Abbott. His skill and tenacity as a young Detective would see him recognised as a leading international authority by drug enforcement bodies. He worked with the Narcotics Bureaus in Hong Kong and in Tokyo, he provided assistance to Singapore with their drug laws, he addressed numerous conferences and symposia, he spoke at schools and hospitals. He spoke passionately on the emerging scourge of drugs, to the Houses of Parliament, at schools and on television, compelling all that would listen on the need for action. And he is on record at the Institute of Criminology as far back as 1968 saying that unless ruthlessness was adopted in drug law enforcement, principally by politicians, and the installation of powers and resources, then he feared for the future. And his passion and commitment bore fruit. Cec submitted a report that was considered by many senior officers of the day to be, as Cec would later put it: “pie in the sky”. But as always, he persevered, his recommendations were accepted, and a Squad of about 16 officers was formed. Creating the Drug Squad much as we now know it. Detectives, surveillance, safe houses, many of the resources that we consider fundamental today. And the successes followed, with drugs removed from the streets, and traffickers put before the Courts. In 2007 Cec was among three retired officers that the Drug Squad of the State Crime Command honoured as Squad Patrons. At that important Ceremony, a first for the State Crime Command and the NSW Police Force, the Squad formally recognised and paid its respects to Cec for his ground breaking work and leadership in the profession of drug law enforcement. For creating the foundations on which the Squad now flourishes. When our working life is over I expect that each and every one of us wants to look back over our time with a sense of pride and achievement, and with a belief that those tens of thousands of hours of labour were worth it. That the cause was worth the effort, was worth fighting for. That we used our time well. If we’re honest, I am sure we’d also like to think that those we worked with and for thought well of us, respected the job we did and the person we were. There is a video of the ceremony that captures the address given by Cec at the State Crime Command Ceremony I mentioned earlier. His passion for detective work, and drug enforcement in particular, are plain to see, undimmed by the passing of more than two decades since his retirement. The State Crime Command is home to our most skilled detectives … investigating our most complex and serious cases. To impress this group, you need to have something special. You need to know your stuff. And Cec clearly knew his stuff. The respect from the Detectives gathered to hear him speak is so unmistakably evident. Every officer in the venue held in thrall. There could be no doubt that Cec had used his time as a police officer well. In so many endeavours, we now see further and with greater clarity, by standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before. In retired Commissioner Cecil Roy Abbott AO QPM the NSW Police Force truly stands on the shoulders of a giant. I am privileged to be able to represent every member of the NSW Police Force to farewell a Commissioner who served the Force and the people of New South Wales with honour, and distinction. Our prayers travel with you Cec, may you rest in peace.