David O'Dowd

Sir David Joseph O'Dowd, CBE, OStJ, QPM (born 20 February 1942) was Chief Inspector of Constabulary^[1] from 1996 until 2001.^[2]

O'Dowd was educated at Gartree High School, University of Leicester, the Open University and the University of Aston.^[3] He joined the Leicester City Police in 1961 rising to the rank of Chief Inspector. In 1977 he joined the West Midlands Police as a Superintendent. In 1984, along with John Smith and Wyn Jones, he was one of a trio of young provincial rising stars who were appointed to the rank of deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police as part of Commissioner Sir Kenneth Newman's drive for modernisation,^[4] becoming head of strategic planning. He was Chief Constable of the Northamptonshire Police from 1986 until 1993. He was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 2007.^[5]