Irish-born policeman who rose from constable to become Queensland’s first Deputy Commissioner and later Commissioner of Police.

Patrick Glynn began his policing career in Ireland, where he served in the Royal Irish Constabulary before emigrating to Australia in the early 1920s. Bringing with him a deep respect for discipline and service, he joined the Queensland Police Force in 1922, quickly earning a reputation for fairness, efficiency and a calm authority that won him respect from both colleagues and the public.

By 1949, Glynn’s leadership abilities saw him appointed as Queensland’s first Deputy Commissioner of Police, a position newly established to help manage the growing complexity of law enforcement across the state. Six years later, in 1955, he rose to the top as Police Commissioner, steering the service through a period of major modernisation before retiring in 1957.

Glynn’s career stands as a classic story of Irish diligence and quiet determination shaping Queensland’s institutions.