Tony Lauer

Tony Lauer, APM, JP (b. 19 December 1935, Newcastle, New South Wales) was an Australian police commissioner. He married Joy Stock in 1955; they have four children and, as of 2005, eleven grandchildren.

Education

Tony Lauer was educated at Penrith High School, University of Sydney, Australian Police Staff College (Manly, Australia), and the F.B.I. Academy, Quantico, Virginia. Lauer is also a graduate of the F.B.I.’s 17th National Executive Institute.

Involvement in the Police Force

Lauer served with the New South Wales Police Force for forty-one years altogether, as a General Duty uniform officer, Traffic Patrol cyclist, and in a wide range of criminal investigation duties. During his police service, Tony had held the appointments of Chief Superintendent in Charge, Criminal Investigation Branch; Assistant Commissioner, Professional Responsibility; and Deputy Commissioner, State Commander.

He succeeded to the position of Commissioner of Police, after the retirement of Commissioner John Avery, in March 1991. In January 1996, Tony Lauer's term ended in controversy with his resignation soon after the start of the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption.

After some time a new replacement Commissioner was selected from England with the appointment of Peter James Ryan to the position.

He is a past President of the Police Association of NSW and was made a Life Member of the Association in 1983. He has served as a member of the Police Board of NSW, the Operation Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Management Committee of the State Crime Commission and a Councillor of the Royal Humane Society of NSW.

He is currently a Director of the Police Department Employee’s Credit Union Limited. He is also chairman of the Information Technology Committee and a member of the Assets and Liabilities Committee of that Credit Union. He also serves as a Legator with Police Legacy and as a member of the RSL’s “Anzac of the Year” Award Committee.

Awards and Other Information

Lauer underwent training in the Australian Army with the 19th National Service Training Battalion, Holsworthy, in 1957.

He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in 1994, and has been awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the National Medal, Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee Medal and the Australian Police Medal.

References

• Dodkin, Marilyn (2003) Bob Carr: The Reluctant Leader, University of New South Wales Press.
• New South Wales Government Police Integrity Commission (1997) Royal Commission Reports, Ch. 1, 3, 4.