Homicide Squad head Michael Willing promoted to assistant commissioner for counter-terrorism

NSW Police Homicide Squad head Michael Willing, whose high-profile cases included finding Australia’s most wanted fugitive killer Malcolm Naden, is set to become one of our top counter-terror bosses.

• Australian Police Medal for cops who brought worst to justice
• Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s plans to overhaul Force

NSW Police Homicide Squad head Michael Willing, whose high-profile cases included finding Australia’s most wanted fugitive killer Malcolm Naden, is set to become one of our top terror bosses.

In a widespread overhaul of the police hierarchy under new Commissioner Mick Fuller, five other new assistant commissioner appointments will also be taken to cabinet today.

Detective Superintendent Michael Willing, the longest-serving boss of the state’s Homicide Squad, will take over the most prestigious and important role as assistant commissioner for counter-terrorism.

Det Supt Willing has overseen many high-profile investigations.

Supt Willing was crime manager in Dubbo when Malcolm Naden murdered two local women, and had become head of homicide when Naden, then Australia’s most wanted man, was captured in 2012 and later sentenced to life in prison.

Det Supt Willing has also overseen the high-profile investigations into the murder of Kiesha Weippeart, the Quakers Hill nursing home fire and the investigation into the Lindt cafe siege.

He will replace Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, who is retiring, on November 4.

Caught: Malcolm Naden.

The list Police Minister Troy Grant is expected to put forward to cabinet today for promotion includes superintendents Karen Webb, Mark Walton, Tony Crandell, Kyle Stewart and Joe Cassar.

It comes in the wake of the promotions of Mr Fuller and new deputy commissioners Gary Worboys and Jeff Loy.

The number of assistant commissioners will be increased from 17 to 19 for ­several months, until the retirements of Mr Murdoch and Denis Clifford.

South West Commander Frank Mennilli is also expected to retire next March.

Mr Grant is expected to recommend Detective Superintendent Webb take over the high-profile portfolio of the Transport Command to bolster female ranks in the senior executive.

A highly ­experienced officer, Supt Webb has worked as an investigator in a number of Sydney commands and squads. She is now in charge of the surveillance unit.

The biggest shake-up of senior ranks of the police ­officially starts on August 1.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins will take over the new intelligence unit. His position as state crime commander is expected to be taken over by Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon, now head of Forensic Services.

Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, from Transport Command, will take over from Mr Loy in the northern region.

Det Supt Willing with former commissioner Andrew Scipione.

The appointment of extra assistant commissioners may stick in the craw of police in middle management, with the government and new commissioner already foreshadowing a reduction in the number of superintendents and inspectors as part of its “re-engineering” of the force.

The appointments signal a generational change after the retirement of former commissioner Andrew Scipione, who led the force for the past decade.

In the past five years the force has been divided after bitter disputes between police hierarchy over a bugging scandal involving former deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas and ­current deputy commissioner colleague Cath Burn.

The new appointments are seen as a signal that the last few years of divisiveness are to be put aside as the police force rebuilds under Mr Fuller.