A probationary constable who burst onto the scene as the "Richie Cunningham" of his division, has become the boss of Australia's largest police force.

In front of his teary and beaming mother, Mal Lanyon climbed the final rank of the NSW Police Force on Wednesday as he was sworn in as its 24th commissioner.

The location - Balmain Police Station - was a stone's throw from where it all began for a then-19-year-old walking the streets of Sydney's inner west.

"The quite young constable, known as the Richie Cunningham of Glebe, blended in naturally," Police Minister Yasmin Catley told attendees.

"Mal cut his teeth on the frontline ... he was chasing notorious criminals.

"They were all bad bastards, but he caught them all."

Asked about the Happy Days nickname, Mr Lanyon said his 1987 hairs

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