Tuesday 16 June 2009

The new Deputy Commissioner for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Wayne Buchhorn, inspected the police parade for the first time last Thursday morning at the Police Headquarters at Rove.

Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn was accompanied by the RSIPF Commissioner, Peter Marshall and Deputy Commissioner Walter Kola.

As the RSIPF Police Band played, Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn inspected the assembled police on parade and said he was impressed with their professionalism and proud to be given the honour to carry out the inspection.

“I stand here this morning as Deputy Commissioner of the RSIPF for the first time and I can say that you have all presented in a professional manner befitting this proud police force.

“I know what it is like to be standing where you are and can state from experience that you are all great representatives of the RSIPF,” Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn said.

Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn who comes to the Solomon Islands with a wealth of policing experience, told the RSIPF that discipline was at the core of a good police force.

“This parade is proof itself of the sort of discipline you are capable of. The challenge is to carry this discipline into all aspects of your policing,” he said.   

Mr Buchhorn served with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for 21 years in investigative roles ranging from fraud, intelligence, drug operations, surveillance and two years with the National Crime Authority.

During this time Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn completed a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria. He took a year off from the AFP in 1998 and practiced as a solicitor for a law firm in Melbourne whilst also tutoring in Corporate Law at La Trobe University, Victoria.

Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn also holds a Master of Science in International Relations from the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore and completed a Senior Executive Program in National and International Security from the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn has played an important role in the AFP’s International Network and was the AFP’s Senior Liaison Officer in Singapore.

Following this he was posted to Jakarta, Indonesia as the AFP Manager where he was responsible for all AFP activities across the Indonesian archipelago.

Prior to joining the AFP Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn spent six years serving with the Australian Regular Army, serving with the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth.

Upon his return to Australia in 2007 he took up the role as Manager of the AFP’s international counter terrorism activities.

In February 2008 Deputy Commissioner Buchhorn was seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where he worked as part of the team on the Homeland and Border Security Review.

Commander Buchhorn is married to Lesley and has three grown children, Rachelle, 22, Karl 19 and Dane 18. He follows Australian Rules football and during his leisure time enjoys keeping fit by running, riding and rowing and pursuing studies in philosophy. 

Media release issued by: RSIPF Media Unit