John Avery (police commissioner)

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The former headquarters of the New South Wales Police Service was named the Avery Building in honour of former Commissioner Avery. Building seen here at centre of picture in College Street, Sydney in 2007.

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John Keith Avery was the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police from 1984 to 1991. He succeeded Cecil Roy Abbott to the position and was himself succeeded by Anthony Raymond Lauer.

John Keith Avery was the 16th leader of the organisation and the 10th person known under the title of Commissioner of Police. John Keith Avery was one of the longest serving and more popular Commissioners of Police to serve the State of New South Wales.

One of the first Police Commissioners to have a tertiary education, obtaining a Masters Degree from Macquarie University and a Diploma in Criminology. He was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia, Australian Police Medal, Centenary Medal and National Medal.

He is also the author of a popular book titled "Police - Force or Service?" which he wrote as an Inspector, ultimately resulting in the organisations' name being changed from NSW Police Force to NSW Police Service.

The library at the New South Wales Police College at Goulburn is named in his honour. The headquarters of the New South Wales Police in College Street, Sydney was also named in his honour, named the Avery Building until the headquarters moved to a new building in Parramatta in 2003. He has retired with his wife to Port Macquarie on the mid north coast of New South Wales.