They are back in the pack. Now he moves out to an unremarkable building in Penrith as a region commander. For Small, a meticulous strategist and polished media performer, he abandons the leadership of 600 detectives in an elite command. Today, rather than inspiring officers who work on serious murders, extortions, gang warfare, organised crime and the hottest of offences, he will be based in the familiar surrounds of Liverpool as a region commander. This can only be seen as a fall.
Specialist commanders go hard on crime and corruption.
It is, in the main, unspectacular work. There is undeniable truth in Ryan's statement that he acted to improve the stocks of his potential successors - but his decision is also full of politics. The moves have occurred, primarily, to protect the Ryan realm - and in a rush. Although Ryan has been considering a reshuffle since the end of the Olympics, the sheer scope of his manoeuvring, and the fact some commanders learnt of their fate only hours before a press conference on Wednesday, suggests there may be other influences at work. Influences outside Ryan's control.