Ms Nixon, 55, said she was sad to be leaving, but was ''excited about doing other things''. She said despite offers from the Government to continue, she believes it's time to go after nearly eight years in the top job and 36 years as a police officer. She thanked Premier John Brumby and Police Minister Bob Cameron for their support and said she believed she was leaving Victoria Police in good order. "I will remain with Victoria Police until the end of March next year to allow the Government to conduct a process to appoint a new chief commissioner and then I will consider a range of options for my future,'' she said. "No decision like this is easy, however, I always believe that it's important to know the right time to go.

"I've watched our former premier Steve Bracks and John Stewart, the CEO of NAB, who have made smooth transitions out of their organisations with little disruption. I've also talked to a range of people who've made these choices and learned a lot from their advice. "Importantly the right time has coincided with the view that the organisation will continue to forge forward with strong and talented leadership.'' Deputy commissioners Simon Overland and Kieran Walshe are front-runners to replace her. Acknowledging the support of her husband and parents, who attended this morning's media conference, Ms Nixon said the job had taken a toll on her family. Ms Nixon said the force was outstanding at all levels and had committed, enthusiastic and energetic members who wanted to get on with the future.

She admitted she had her differences with the Police Association. "We certainly had our ups and downs, but I think we're on the same track, working for our members," she said.



Speaking at the police union's headquarters in East Melbourne this afternoon, Police Assocciateion Assistant Secretary Bruce McKenzie said there had been differences between the association and Ms Nixon. "The Police Association has certainly had its professional differences with Chief Commisioner Christine Nixon - that fact cannot be denied or erased," he said. Mr McKenzie acknowldeged Ms Nixon's contribution in regards to the success of the Purana taskforce. He said the Police Association was looking forward to working with the new chief commissioner, who "should be a Victorian".

"The time for interstate experimentation is over," he said.

Shadow police minister Andrew McIntosh told Radio 3AW earlier today the State Government had failed to provide adequate resources for police to do their job. "Christine Nixon has done the best job in the circumstance where this government has totally failed to adequately resource Victoria police over a large number of years,'' Mr McIntosh told Radio 3AW. "A record level of violent crimes, some 43,000 crimes in the state of Victoria is an indictment of this Government and lack of resourcing to Victoria Police.''



Ms Nixon's seven-year tenure has involved a fraught relationship with the Police Association, the arrests of three senior officers over in an Office of Police Integrity investigation and the culmination of Melbourne's deadly gangland war.



Just last month she reimbursed Qantas over a controversial free flight she and her husband took to Los Angeles on the A380 superjumbo. Australia's first woman police chief, the former NSW senior officer was the first outsider to lead the Victorian force in nearly 50 years.



She soon ran foul of the Police Association when she disbanded the drug squad following allegations of corruption, and the relationship soured further over the ensuing years.



Chief Commissioner Nixon brought in another outsider, Simon Overland from the Australian Federal Police, to lead the Purana taskforce which successfully ended nearly a decade of gangland wars.



Two of her most senior staff were disgraced last year when an Office of Police Integrity inquiry into a chain of leaks that sabotaged a murder investigation exposed treachery and jealousy at the highest levels of the Victorian force.



Her style of leadership grates with old-school cops who say she is responsible for a breakdown in discipline.



But others say hers is a modern approach to police management.

with Stacey Lobo, AAP