Informal portrait of Ben McDevitt, Assistant Commissioner Australian Federal Police (AFP), ...

Accession Number P04862.043
Collection type Photograph
Object type Negative
Maker Immig, John
Place made Pacific Islands: Solomon Islands
Date made c November 2003-December 2003
Conflict Period 2000-2009
Solomon Islands (RAMSI), 2003-2013
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

Informal portrait of Ben McDevitt, Assistant Commissioner Australian Federal Police (AFP), Commander Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Participating Police Force (PPF), and Deputy Commissioner Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP), seated at a desk in an office in Solomon Islands. In May 2003 he was selected to plan and deploy a police led peacekeeping operation to restore law and order to Solomon Islands after a period of violence and unrest. The PPF was given responsibility for three important functions: the collection of weapons; resolving the conflict on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal Island; and internal discipline of the RSIP. On 24 July 2004 on the first anniversary of the arrival of RAMSI, codenamed Operation Helpem Fren, Ben McNevitt was awarded the Cross of Solomon Islands for distinguished service to the people of Solomon Islands.