Miranda Devine: Nick Kaldas should be the next New South Wales Police Commissioner

Only one person has the respect, credentials and experience to lead Australia’s biggest police force, as terrorism threats grow and Sydney’s gang wars reignite, writes Miranda Devine.

Only Nick Kaldas has the respect, credentials and experience to lead Australia’s biggest police force, as terrorism threats grow and Sydney’s gang wars reignite. (Pic: Sam Ruttyn/News Corp Australia)

If New South Wales Deputy Premier Troy Grant wants to revive his shattered reputation after the greyhounds debacle, he should ensure that the next Police Commissioner is the best cop for the job.

Andrew Scipione’s preferred replacement when he retires is his protege Cath Burn, but she has shown herself to be not quite up to the job through her handling of the Lindt cafe siege, gang shootings and the phone bugging scandal.

The obvious standout candidate is Burn’s archrival and former fellow deputy Nick Kaldas, an Arabic-speaking Coptic Christian, who is back in Sydney from another impressive stint with the United Nations.

As he is feted this week at packed-out farewells by the troops who adore him, it is obvious he has the respect, credentials and experience required to steer the force through a difficult time ahead, as terrorism threats grow and Sydney’s gang wars reignite.

Scipione has restored faith in the force and buried the toxic legacy of British bobby Peter Ryan.

But now we need a leader who will take the fight to the crooks, not one who is risk-averse and politically correct.

Kaldas is the answer and has the support of the opposition and the crossbench. Grant has this chance to atone.