Jill Rogers announced as second deputy police commissioner amid top brass clean-out
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
A second new deputy police commissioner has been appointed amid a sweeping reform of the policing top brass.
Jill Rogers will take on the role of second-in-command to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, alongside deputy commissioner Mike Pannett, The Post can reveal.
After graduating from Police College in 1993, Rogers started her career in the General Duties Branch in Auckland City and has spent the majority of her policing career in the Auckland region.
She joined the Criminal Investigation Branch in 1996 where she worked as a detective for 17 years, before moving into the policing top brass.
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Rogers took on the role of acting deputy commissioner for the Northern Districts in March last year.
The Policing Act 2008 allows for one or more statutory deputy commissioner of police roles to be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the prime minister.
The Government appointed Pannett in a statutory role late last year, whereas Rogers has been appointed directly by the Police Commissioner.
Chambers described Rogers as an “outstanding leader of people” who was “strongly connected to the communities she has worked in”. He acknowledged Rogers’ experience with “particularly challenging operational matters”.
On Tuesday, Chambers also announced Cassandra Anderson as his Chief of Staff. This is a new role established by Chambers as part of his refresh of the police executive.
Chambers said Anderson had “extensive experience” working with police since 2007, including as chief of staff to former commissioner Mike Bush.
She returned to police last year after two years as deputy chief executive at Oranga Tamariki.
Chambers’ latest hires mean his new leadership team is now fully in place, following the announcement of three new assistant commissioners late last year.
“I have full confidence in my refreshed leadership. They bring the experience, competence and integrity that is needed to deliver on the priorities of police.
“I know they will serve the frontline and staff of New Zealand Police and communities of New Zealand well,” Chambers said.
On August 18, the Public Service Commissioner posted a job ad seeking “two experienced and highly credible leaders to serve as Deputy Commissioners of Police”.
The roles became vacant after a string of resignations, retirements and restructures across the last year.
Swathes of the police executive team were taken out in one fell swoop after a bombshell Independent Police Conduct Authority report into the conduct of disgraced former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
McSkimming has since pleaded guilty to the possession of child sexual exploitation and bestiality imagery and is currently serving nine months’ home detention.
Former deputy police commissioner Chris de Wattignar, deputy commissioner Tania Kura and assistant commissioner Paul Basham were among the casualties of the watchdog’s findings.
Chambers’ predecessor, Andrew Coster, later resigned form his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency too.
Pannett has a 37-year law enforcement career, and became Assistant Commissioner for National Security and International in 2016.
Before that, he was the New Zealand Police Liaison Officer to the US, Canada, Central and South America, based in Washington DC.
Between 2009 and 2011, Pannett was the Manager of Intelligence Operations , where he was responsible for managing the Police National Intelligence Centre and enabling intelligence-led operational activities.
In 2010, Pannett became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to New Zealand Police.