Nick Kaldas confirms top police post is in his sights

EXCLUSIVE: THE race to become the state’s top cop has taken a dramatic turn with former deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas confirming he is ‘considering applying’ for the job - despite facing a raft of contenders.

Mr Kaldas will have until February 26 to lodge his application.

THE race to become the state’s top cop has taken a dramatic twist after former deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas has confirmed he is considering applying for the job of NSW Police Commissioner.

Mr Kaldas quit the force last year after a public spat with arch-rival and counter-terror chief Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn — although the official reason for his departure was that he was medically unfit.

If he were to replace the current commissioner Andrew Scipione, legislation would have to be changed to allow him to return to the force.

From left: Assistant commissioners Mick Fuller, Jeff Loy and Frank Mennilli.

“I am considering applying,” Mr Kaldas confirmed from Amman, Jordan, yesterday where he is working for the UN on special investigations.

Mr Kaldas’s move comes amid a legal fight with the Ombudsman over findings it made against him that he “may have committed an offence” over evidence he gave in the police bugging saga.

The frontrunner for the job is Assistant Commissioner Mick Fuller.

Other contenders include Jeff Loy, Frank Mennilli and Geoff McKechnie.

Another one speculated as perhaps putting his hat in the ring is the highly regarded Australian Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg.

The appointment of Mr Fuller or another assistant commissioner may be seen by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Police Minister Troy Grant as a way out of the feud in the police force between Mr Kaldas and Ms Burn.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione announced his resignation last month.

Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn.

Mr Kaldas has experience on his side.

Mr Kaldas’s operational history includes being the head of the gangs squad and a leading detective in the homicide squad.

He headed the team responsible for the arrest of former Fairfield councillor Phuong Ngo over the infamous John Newman murder.

Mr Kaldas’s biggest backer in Cabinet is Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, who wanted to be Police Minister in the latest reshuffle.

Mr Kaldas will have until February 26 to lodge his application.

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Interviews will take place before a selection panel understood to feature Justice Department head Andrew Cappie-Wood, the head of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Blair Comley, and former police commissioner Ken Moroney.

Ms Berejiklian said when Mr Scipione announced he was leaving the job last month, there would be no bar against Mr Kaldas applying for the job.

“I’m not going to speculate on personalities. What I will say is we have put a ­robust process forward,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Whoever succeeds Commissioner Scipione will have enormous shoes to fill.”

Mr Scipione had been in the job since 2007 and retires in early April, at which time Ms Berejiklian has promised to announce a new commissioner.

Last year the opposition and Greens and Shooters MPs called on then premier Mike Baird to appoint Mr Kaldas to replace Mr Scipione.

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