Top cops on the move across NSW Police Force as Commissioner Karen Webb rumoured to be nearing retirement

Police Commissioner Karen Webb is tipped to retire before the end of the year, leading to much speculation about who will fill her shoes.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb is tipped to retire before the end of the year, but in the short-term she is faced with a number of crucial personnel decisions that will shape the force for years to come.

After a brutal three years in the role that has included everything from a fatal Taser cover-up saga and a gin gifting scandal, to securing a historic deal to pay police recruits and putting domestic violence on the national agenda, multiple sources say they think the state’s first female top cop will call it a day in the second-half of 2025.

Ms Webb is into her 38th year in the force and with no obvious heir apparent, should she depart she will leave Premier Chris Minns with a difficult decision on his hands.

However she is not the only senior NSW Police member touted to leave this year, with one position at the Deputy Commissioner level, four at the Assistant Commissioner rank and one of the most revered jobs in the entire force all likely to become vacant sooner rather than later.

Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell holds one of the four spots underneath Ms Webb on the organisational chart, and is rumoured to be on the verge of retirement.

Karen Webb has struggled with dramas and scandal but has big decisions to make before she retires. Picture: Jeremy Piper Simon Bullard.

Mr Thurtell was elevated to the role of Deputy Commissioner in March 2022 and currently runs Metropolitan Field Operations.

His departure will no doubt lead to much jostling by eager Assistant Commissioners with big hopes of not only a short-term promotion, but one day even rising to the top job.

A rung below the Deputy Commissioners on the organisational chart, there are currently two vacant Assistant Commissioner roles — as head of Traffic and Highway Patrol, and Police Prosecutions.

The strong mail is that one of those jobs is as good as filled, with Ms Webb picking Kirsty Hayward for Police Prosecutions role, while the Traffic and Highway job is down to two names — Tracy Chapman and Dave Driver.

There is also speculation Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell will retire this year. Picture: Monique Harmer

Former police prosecutor Kirsty Heyward is the hot tip to take over the vacant Assistant Commissioner role overseeing the Prosecutions branch.

Assistant Commissioner Dave Driver is thought to be in the running for the job as head of Traffic and Highway Patrol.

Ms Hayward is a logical appointment as a widely respected former prosecutor herself, while Ms Chapman and Mr Driver both have much experience in the road safety area.

Another two Assistant Commissioner roles will then open up when Michael Fitzgerald retires from his role as the Commander of State Crime Command in coming months, while Counter Terrorism boss Mark Walton is also speculated to be a likely retirement this year.

Sources said Mr Walton’s position, should it open, is seemingly set to be filled by Leanne McCusker who is one of the leading women in the force and has been shadowing him in the Counter Terrorism role in recent months.

Mr Fitzgerald’s replacement is widely thought to be a battle between two — with fellow Assistant Commissioners Scott Cook and Peter Cotter tipped to be fighting it out for the role.

Both men have extensive history working at the Parramatta Police Headquarters, including both previously holding the role as head of the Homicide Squad.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton is rumoured to also be considering departing his role as head of the Counter Terrorism & Special Tactics Command. Picture: Nikki Short

Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty, one of the most recognisable faces in the force, is set to retire this year. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Mr Cook was well thought of in his time overseeing the state’s murder investigations, while Mr Cotter recently celebrated 40 years in the force and has had a busy last few years dealing with the tasering of grandmother Clare Nowland in Cooma by ex-cop Kristian White when he was in charge of the state’s Southern Region, before taking over the Professional Standards Command.

The current Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty is also expected to retire at some point this year.

Mr Doherty is a recognisable face to many across the state due to him regularly being required to front press conferences following high-profile murders, and his departure will open up one of the most sought-after positions in the force.

Despite being yet to officially announce his retirement, several names are already being touted as Mr Doherty’s potential replacements.

Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi is considered a likely candidate to take over as Homicide Squad boss. Picture: Simon Bullard.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis could also move into the top Homicide role. Photo by: Gaye Gerard

Superintendent Joe Doueihi is tipped to be among the running for a return to Homicide, where he was previously an investigator before moving to his current position as the boss of the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad.

Superintendent Jason Dickinson, another former decorated detective who worked on some of the state’s biggest cases, has also been put forward by police sources as a possible candidate to the top job.

Another name being speculated by many is Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis who oversees the Raptor Squad currently, but also has experience as a detective working on several murder investigations.

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