The Cook Islands Police Commissioner’s future is expected to be decided by the Cabinet.

Police Commissioner James Keenan’s first three-year term comes to an end this month. He has been leading the Cook Islands Police Service since 2021.

Secretary to Cabinet, Harold Arthur (JJ) Browne confirmed yesterday that the Police Commissioner’s tenure was part of the agenda in today’s Cabinet discussions.

Cook Islands News understands that Commissioner Keenan’s contract is likely to be extended for another term.

In March, a spokesperson at the Office of the Prime Minister told the newspaper that an announcement on whether or not his term will be extended is likely to be made by April 30, 2024.

The spokesperson yesterday said there was no update on Commissioner Keenan’s contract.

In March the newspaper also revealed there was a complaint filed against Commissioner Keenan with the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly failing to investigate two complaint reports.

According to the complainant, they delivered two complaint reports dated June, 2021, and October, 2021, to the Police Commissioner. They also met with him and his senior staff on two separate occasions. The complaints to the police related to two Cabinet Ministers.

The complainant claimed that after two and a half years, they had not received any reply or comment from the Police Commissioner.

Last year, two women, both working for different international governments, raised allegations about inappropriate behaviour by Commissioner Keenan on separate occasions.

In an interview in October last year, Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also the Minister for Police, told Cook Islands News: “There is a due process that takes place in that complaint, and we will let that due process continue.”

In February this year, 1News reported that the Police Commissioner was not available for comment, but his spokesperson said the matter had been in the hands of Prime Minister Brown and had been dealt with.

“I have full confidence in the police commissioner, and he’s doing a great job so far,” PM Brown told 1News.