NSW Police: Assistant commissioners Mick Fuller and Frank Mennilli expected to be appointed as deputies as early as next month

EXCLUSIVE: POLICE assistant commissioners are expected to be appointed as deputies as early as the Baird cabinet’s first 2017 meeting early next month.

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POLICE assistant commissioners Mick Fuller and Frank Mennilli are expected to be appointed as deputies as early as the Baird cabinet’s first 2017 meeting early next month, senior government sources said yesterday.

The appointments will come despite concerted pressure on Police Minister Troy Grant from the Police ­Association for the appointment of deputies to be ­delayed until after Commissioner Andrew Scipione ­retires in July.

The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday association senior officials had bragged they had managed to delay the appointments of Mr Fuller and Mr Mennilli, who were recommended by a panel involving Mr Scipione, Northern Territory Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and Department of Premier and Cabinet head Blair Comley to fill two new deputy commissioner roles.

The appointments were supposed to be ratified by cabinet in December but the decision was delayed amid claims from association officials that they had won agreement from government to stop the process.

In a recent answering ­machine message, Police ­Association president Scott Weber told Mr Mennilli words to the effect of: “We (the union) were approached by the government about (support for) pulling the process (to ­appoint the deputies) and we support the government in pulling the process.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Frank Mennilli.

Assistant Commissioner Mick Fuller.

Mr Mennilli was also told by senior justice ministry ­official Adrian McKenna he would not be getting the deputy’s job, and association relationships co-ordinator Tony Bear has been accused of telling senior police that a deal had been done to head off the appointments because the union’s preferred candidate Jeff Loy had not been selected. Mr Bear denies the claims.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

NSW Police Minister Troy Grant.

The Daily Telegraph confirmed yesterday that Mr Grant is expected to take a submission to cabinet as early as the first cabinet meeting in February recommending Mr Fuller and Mr Mennilli be appointed as deputies to join current deputies Cath Burn and Dave Hudson.

It is understood Mr Mennilli was earmarked by the process as the recommended Deputy (City), while Mr Fuller would be the Deputy Commissioner (Country).

Deputy Police Commissioner Cath Burn.

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas.

Premier Mike Baird would not buy into the affair yesterday, a spokesman simply saying: “A process is under way for the recruitment of the new deputy commissioners and the Premier is confident it will produce the right outcome for an even stronger NSW Police Force.”

Labor yesterday supported the association’s position, with the Opposition’s police spokesman Guy Zangari saying: “The ruptures and disquiet in NSW Police is a direct ­result of the Baird government’s inability to succession plan for the top job.

“It’s the government’s grave incompetence that’s giving rise to serious discontent among NSW police officers. The new commissioner should be the one appointing his or her deputies, not Premier Mike Baird or Police Minister Troy Grant.”