NSW police boss draws up list of potential candidates for deputy commissioners
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has put forward his hand-picked list of nine top candidates for two new deputy commissioner positions.
NSW
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NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has put forward his hand-picked list of nine top candidates for two new deputy commissioner positions — roles created to expand the field of candidates to find his successor.
Mr Scipione’s list, which ranks the candidates from one to nine, will be given to cabinet tomorrow and form part of the selection process to see who will get the senior roles of deputy commissioner in charge of the Sydney metropolitan area and deputy commissioner for the bush.
It’s believed at least six out of the nine are considered to be a chance of being appointed but four Assistant Commissioners — Frank Mennilli, Geoff McKechnie, Jeff Loy and Mick Fuller — are standouts.
“Obviously his rankings will have some weight but it will be up to cabinet to discuss the merits of all those put forward,” a government source said yesterday.
“The commissioner’s recommendations are not automatically rubber-stamped.”
The decision is due to be made tomorrow and announced on Friday but a packed cabinet agenda could see it delayed until the new year.
Commissioner Scipione will retire in July 2017, which means the government realistically has only a couple of months to try to decide who will replace him.
Among the selection panel for the deputies was Northern Territory commissioner Reece Kershaw, raising speculation he may be being considered as an outsider to come in as boss, although Premier Mike Baird has said he would prefer to keep the appointment within NSW.
“By being on the panel, he gets to look at his future deputies rather than a new boss coming in with new personnel around him,” said a senior officer. “It just adds to the rumour mill, which is in overdrive about who will replace Scipione. Really everyone is over it and just wants a decision so we can get on with the job.”
The first problem for the incoming commissioner and that of the deputy for the metropolitan area is official police figures showing the force is 519 positions under strength.
“Police numbers have not kept up with population growth,” said NSW Police Association president Scott Weber. “NSW needs an extra 247 police each year just to keep up with that growth and that is not being done, and there are areas of this state critically understaffed.”
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