New Garda Deputy Commissioner welcomed by Commissioner Harris

Dr Shawna Coxon has been appointed the new Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána following an open competition by the Policing Authority.

Deputy Commissioner Coxon was previously Deputy Chief, Toronto Police.

“Dr Coxon served with Toronto Police for 24 years where she had held senior roles in areas such as community engagement, roads policing, organisational transformation, cyber-crime, sexual crime, child abuse, and intelligence analysis.

A Garda statement said that “as Deputy Commissioner, Strategy, Governance and Performance, Coxon will oversee implementation of the Garda projects under the major Government change programme, A Policing Service For Our Future; the organisation’s corporate planning process; professional standards; continuing progress on cultural and ethical initiatives, and co-ordinating strategy implementation.”

Commissioner Drew Harris said: “I welcome Deputy Commissioner Coxon to An Garda Síochána.

“She has extensive policing and change management experience from her service in Toronto.

“I look forward to working with her to deliver significant reforms under a Policing Service for our Future while continuing to provide a policing service that keeps people safe.”

Deputy Commissioner Coxon has attested as a member of An Garda Síochána in a virtual ceremony.

She is currently carrying out her duties in quarantine as per public health regulations.

Deputy Commissioner Coxon has a BA with Honours in Psychology from York University, a MA in Criminology from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Criminal Law from Leicester University.