Col Blanch has been appointed as Western Australia's next police commissioner.
He will take the helm once current Commissioner Chris Dawson becomes WA's 34th governor next month.
It was a bleary-eyed Deputy Commissioner Blanch who announced to the world in the early hours of November 3 last year that Cleo Smith had been found safe and well.
He also helped lead the WA Police response to outlaw gangs in the wake of the sniper-style murder of Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin in 2020.
In announcing his appointment, Police Minister Paul Papalia said Deputy Commissioner Blanch was the "stand-out candidate" recommended by an independent panel.
"He is completely familiar with the pathway upon which we've embarked under Commissioner Dawson, and he guarantees that policing in Western Australia is in good hands."
He will assume the role on July 15.
Focus on solving crimes faster, Blanch says
Deputy Commissioner Blanch said he was "humbled" to be selected for the position, having worked with Commissioner Dawson for the last eight years.
His career in policing spans more than 30 years, and he described himself as a police officer "through and through".
He said ensuring police were visible in the community, and solving crimes faster, would be two of his priorities.
Youth crime, which continues to plague a number of towns and communities in WA's north, will also be a key issue to confront.
"Regional WA is a complex policing environment. We have sent extraordinary numbers up there under Operation Regional Shield," Deputy Commissioner Blanch said.
"We can't do this alone. We must work closely with [the] Department of Justice, Department of Communities and the local community."
He said meeting community members to find solutions would be key, as would building on Mr Dawson's 2018 apology for the mistreatment of Aboriginal people at the hands of police.
The process of finding his replacement as deputy will begin in the days ahead.
'People know what they're getting': Police Minister
Deputy Commissioner Blanch joined WA Police in 2018 as an assistant commissioner, before being promoted to his current position months later.
Before that, he worked at the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, where Commissioner Dawson was chief executive officer between 2014 and 2017.
Mr Papalia said during his time in WA Police, Deputy Commissioner Blanch had played a key role in reforming the culture of the force and leading the implementation of "real-time intelligence" and other technologies.
He said while there would always be a degree of disruption when a new commissioner was appointed, he expected that would be lessened because Deputy Commissioner Blanch was an internal appointment.
"People know what they're getting and who's going to be leading them," Mr Papalia said.
Force restructured under Dawson
Commissioner Dawson will take up the role of governor next month, succeeding Kim Beazley.
He joined the force at the age of 17, with a career in policing that has spanned 46 years including five in the top job.
That time has included steering WA through the COVID pandemic as State Emergency Coordinator, and at one stage as the state’s vaccine commander.
Reflecting on his leadership, Commissioner Dawson said highlights included restructuring the force to take on a more “values-based approach”, and seizing record amounts of methylamphetamine.
Speaking at today’s announcement, he was quick to sing the praise of Deputy Commissioner Blanch.
“He’s relentless in his pursuit of criminals, he’s very accomplished and very well respected by people across the globe,” he said.
“He cares, and it’s not just the care about our people, the men and women of our police force. He cares about our community.”
When Commissioner Dawson's appointment as governor was announced, he said he had enjoyed the “wonderful opportunity” to serve WA through the police force.
“But I’m also very much looking forward to being able to continue my service to the people of Western Australia,” he said.
