Nick Kaldas eyeing a return to NSW Police with veiled bid for Commissioner’s job

FORMER deputy police commissioner Nick Kaldas has made a veiled bid to take over from Andrew Scipione and become the state’s top cop.

• NSW POLICE: NUMBER OF DEPUTIES LIFTED TO FIVE

FORMER deputy police commissioner Nick Kaldas has made a veiled bid to take over from Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and become the state’s top cop, saying NSW Police needs “credible leadership”.

Mr Kaldas left the force earlier this year and now works for the United Nations in New York, his second time with the global organisation.

“Working with the United Nations has been a great experience, again, but it has reminded me that credible leadership is crucial to the success of any organisation,” Mr Kaldas told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

Former Assistant Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas.

“NSW will always be near and very dear to my heart.”

The comments from Mr Kaldas come as the top brass of the NSW Police is in the middle of a succession crisis.

Mr Kaldas also signed off on an announcement by Labor, the Shooters and other minor parties in the NSW parliament to put his name forward as a potential replacement for Mr Scipione, who has been in the top job for nine years.

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed that in a text exchange between Shooters MP Robert Borsak and Mr Kaldas on Wednesday, Mr Kaldas gave the go-ahead to the extraordinary press conference at which all opposition parties called on Premier Mike Baird to give Mr Kaldas the job.

Andrew Scipione.

Cath Burn.

Such a move would require special legislation and for Mr Kaldas to give up an estimated $200,000-plus annual police pension earned through a medical discharge.

The chances of Mr Baird agreeing to appoint Mr Kaldas appear to be grim to zero, and Mr Kaldas is understood to have been told by cabinet ministers this was Mr Baird’s view. But, if approached, it is understood he would be interested in the role.

“I have been in contact with him, and he has indicated to me he is very happy for us to make this representation,” Mr Borsak said.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley described Mr Kaldas as the “finest police officer of his generation”.

Cartoonist Warren Brown‘s view.

“I believe if the Premier of NSW picked up the phone to Nick Kaldas and said I want you back running the NSW Police Force, I am pretty confident Nick Kaldas would answer that call,” Mr Foley said.

Police Minister Troy Grant yesterday announced a restructure aimed at finding the best officer to replace Mr Scipione when he retires next July involving an increase in deputy commissioners from three to five.

At that announcement, Mr Scipione made the surprise statement that current deputies Cath Burn and Dave Hudson will be able to pick their own jobs.

This means Ms Burn may retain counter-terrorism despite controversy over her handling of the Lindt siege affair, where she went home early.