Karen Webb: NSW Police Commissioner confirms resignation, will leave top cop job in September
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has confirmed she will retire after 38 years with the force.
Ms Webb, whose time with the force has been marred by controversy during her three year tenure, will retire in September.
NSW Police said that Ms Webb had planned to announce her resignation on May 18, coinciding with the day she first walked into the Goulburn Police Academy, however, confirmed the news on Wednesday, presumable following media reports of her immanent announcement.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Taking over from former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, Ms Webb was the State’s first female commissioner.
Ms Webb said being the “first female police commissioner has been her greatest honour”.
Not wasting time, Ms Webb has also given recommendation her her replacement.
“I have recommended to the Government that Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell act in my role,” Ms Webb said on Wednesday.
“I knew when the time was right I would know, and I wanted to give the State Government time to recruit and appoint a new Commissioner going into an election period in less than two years’ time,” she said.
Ms Webb is retiring “following discussions with her family”, a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Despite a steady start in her role, Ms Webb faced intense criticism over her handling of cases including that of 95-year-old Clare Nowland who died after being tasered by former police officer Kristian White and the double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly at the hands of former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.
She sparked outrage by saying she was “grateful” for Lamarre-Condon’s “co-operation”, after police had launched a State-wide police manhunt for the alleged killer.
Ms Webb has also been drawn into an investigation that is still underway, involving the purchase of alcohol and gifts using taxpayer dollars.
Ms Webb resignation is just the latest in a string of top cop departures after a string of recent moves across the country.
On Tuesday, former New Zealand police chief Mike Bush was named as the next police commissioner for Victoria.
He will come out of retirement on June 27 after Shane Patton departed Victoria Police in February.
