Sussex DCC takes up College leadership role
A new executive director has been appointed at the College of Policing.
Sussex Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Bernie O’Reilly will take up the leadership role at the college as soon as his current duties allow.
Mr O’Reilly, a former deputy director for the Strategic Command Course, will have responsibility for delivering key college products and managing organisational change.
College chief executive officer Mike Cunningham said his appointment will enhance the organisation’s connection with operational policing.
Mr O’Reilly said: “I am looking forward to starting this exciting new role with the college and I aim to bring all of my experience in policing over the last 30 years to this national role.
“I want to play my part in building on the work of the college to support officers and staff across policing who work tirelessly to protect the public.”
Mr O’Reilly joined Staffordshire Police in 1989, working in both the CID and uniformed roles in every rank to chief inspector.
He became head of diversity for the force before becoming divisional commander for Stoke on Trent in 2008.
As a public order commander, he has led the response to football matches and protests and served as European match commander for Stoke City in 2011.
He attended the Strategic Command Course in 2014 and was promoted to assistant chief constable with responsibility for local policing and operations, before taking charge of crime and criminal justice.
He joined Sussex Police as its deputy chief constable in June 2016, where he has worked to implement the force’s four-year transformation plan.
Mr O’Reilly is also an accredited specialist strategic firearms commander and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for onshore oil and gas exploration.
Sussex Police Chief Constable Giles York said Mr O’Reilly has made a “significant contribution” to the force’s leadership.
Mr Cunningham added: “There have been significant changes to policing in recent years and Bernie provides us with current experience of the considerable challenges facing the service.
“His appointment will assist us in taking forward our work to raise standards and support all those working in policing.”