Rochdale appoints new Police Commander

Chief Superintendent John O'Hare.

Chief Superintendent John O’Hare has been appointed as Rochdale’s new Divisional Commander.

He will be taking over from Chief Superintendent Peter Mason, who is retiring after two years in the role at Rochdale.

Superintendent O’Hare said: “I am incredibly pleased to be taking on this role at Rochdale. Chief Superintendent Mason has built a highly successful division and I am looking forward to building on the excellent work that has been undertaken here over the past few years.

“As the Chief for Rochdale, I am committed to Neighbourhood Policing and with my experience from working in challenging areas I have seen that there is a benefit to having local staff working with local people in an effort to find a solution. I think it is right that the community holds us to account but at the same time we need the help and support all officers and staff so that they can meet the demands set upon them.

“I am really hoping to help and support officers in their daily work as demands and expectations have increased. I now hope as a division we can continue to work closely with our partners to make Rochdale a safer and more pleasant place to live, work and visit.”

Superintendent O'Hare joined Greater Manchester Police in 1994 having previously spent six years as a constable in Cumbria Constabulary. During this period he was seconded to Lancashire Constabulary and worked as a diver in the Regional Underwater Search Unit based in Preston.

As a Sergeant, he worked on South Manchester Division at Longsight and on the Tactical Aid Unit. He then returned to Longsight as an Inspector before being seconded to Manchester City Council to work within a multi-agency team setting up Crime and Disorder Partnerships.

Superintendent O'Hare was later promoted to Chief Inspector and became Head of Operational Training (Public Order, Firearms, Self Defence).

In 2005, he was selected to set up the Chief Constable's Leadership Programme and later took up an operational post on Trafford Division at Stretford.

Over the last three years he has been a Superintendent and has worked on the Metropolitan Division, where he was responsible for policing operations and the Specialist Operations Branch where he led the Tactical Aid, Firearms, Mounted, Dog and Air Support Units.