Norway’s justice ministry will soon be launching a search for a new director of the state police. Current state police director Odd Reidar Humlegård has decided to step down when his six-year term ends in November.
Humlegård, age 57, said he simply chose not to apply for an extension of his contract. He told state broadcaster NRK that police preparedness has been strengthened in the midst of a massive and often controversial national reorganization, “but we’re not finished and many are impatient to see better results.” He thinks it’s time for “new leadership with other thoughts, and new blood at the top.”
Justice Minister Tor Mikkel Wara announced that a search will be launched in October to find Humlegård’s replacement. He’d been asked to stay on but Wara said he respected Humlegård’s decision that he didn’t want to commit to another six years.
Humlegård took over as state police director in 2012 after his predecessor had to quit amidst harsh criticism of the police department’s lack of preparedness during the July 22 terrorist attacks in 2011.
newsinenglish.no staff
