Andrew Coster rules out second term as Police Commissioner

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has ruled out a second term in the role.

A police spokesperson confirmed to the Herald his term expires on April 2 next year and he “expects to finish on that date”.

Coster was appointed commissioner on April 3, 2020, after recommendations from the State Services Commission to Police Minister Stuart Nash and Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern.

Coster was a deputy police commissioner at the time.

He was appointed commissioner following the retirement of Mike Bush - who did two three-year stints as the country’s top cop.

Coster has had a varied and steady rise up the ranks.

He joined the police in 1996 and worked across all policing in the Counties-Manukau and Auckland City districts, including as a detective from 1996-2003.

He was the Auckland Area Commander from 2009-2013, the Auckland Armed Offenders Squad commander from 2011-2013, Southern Police District Commander from 2013-2015, the Ministry of Justice deputy’s chief executive 2016-2018 and had police deputy roles from 2018-2019.

In 2004, Coster graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Auckland and that same year admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the High Court.

After a stint with Auckland Crown prosecutors Meredith Connell, Coster returned to the police ranks.