NSW Police senior roles open up as Karen Webb reshuffles leadership

With senior positions left vacant by a high-profile promotion and sudden sacking, a major restructure of the NSW Police brass is underway.

A major restructure of the police brass is underway with jostling beginning for the senior positions opened up by the promotion of Karen Webb to Commissioner and sudden sacking of Mick Willing.

With the two deputy commissioner roles currently unfilled, one of Ms Webb’s first jobs when she officially becomes the state’s first female top cop next week will be to announce the team around her.

Her decision to terminate the contract of Deputy Commissioner Mr Willing – the man she narrowly beat to the top job last year – was because she believed he did not fit with her five year plan, sources last week said.

Newly appointed NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb will set about picking her senior leadership team in the coming weeks. Picture: Toby Zerna

Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker is expected to be promoted to Deputy Commissioner. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Police sources said current Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker is an unbackable favourite to fill one deputy spot, while Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar is predicted to take the role left open by Mr Willing’s departure.

But there may yet be another position opening up in the coming months.

The state’s most experienced detective Dave Hudson is expected to retire before the end of the year, leaving Ms Webb with another opening to fill.

As he showed last week when leading the press conference announcing the arrest of a man over the alleged murder of Charlise Mutten, Deputy Commissioner Hudson’s departure will be a major loss for NSW Police.

But there are a host of names likely to be in the mix for promotion.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald, the Commander of Forensic Services, is a highly popular and long-serving officer who will be among the top candidates.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Pisanos. Picture: John Appleyard

Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing last week had his contract terminated by Ms Webb. Picture: Richard Dobson

So too will Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell, the boss of Central Metropolitan Region.

A third name being tossed around in senior circles is that of Mark Walton, who has more than 40 years of experience in the force and is currently the Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism.

Paul Pisanos, who has filled in at deputy commissioner level previously, is also another possible candidate.

Whoever Ms Webb chooses will have a trickle-down effect to the Assistant Commissioner, where a range of positions will subsequently need to be filled.