Former senior cop Mick Willing breaks his silence on shock sacking

A dignified Mick Willing admitted he was “not really expecting” to have his contract suddenly terminated by the state’s new police commissioner.

The man many expected to be the new NSW Police Commissioner has opened up for the first time about the controversial decision to sack him.

In a private Facebook post seen by The Daily Telegraph, Mick Willing admitted he was “not really expecting” to have his contract unceremoniously terminated by the state’s new, and first female, top cop Karen Webb over the phone in January.

But a dignified Mr Willing told his family and friends he would “be forever grateful” for the more than three decades he spent as part of the police force, even wishing the new leadership “all the very best for the future”.

Former senior NSW Police officer Mick Willing has spoken for the first time about his shock sacking last month. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“A month to the day has passed since life took a turn I was not really expecting and I left the NSW Police Force after 31+ years of what was the most rewarding, amazing experience one could ever have,” Mr Willing wrote.

“I was lucky to have been given the privilege of leading so many amazing people in the areas I worked — including LACS (Local Area Commands), Homicide Squad, Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics, Central Metropolitan Region and finally as Deputy Commissioner Regional NSW Field Operations — and I will be forever grateful for that honour.

“So while it has taken me a few weeks, I want to thank everyone who has reached out and continues to reach out to offer their support and best wishes. It has been truly humbling.

“I don’t think anything needs to be said about the circumstances of my leaving other than that I wish the NSW Police Force and its new leadership all the very best for the future.

“It is an incredible organisation but that is because of the incredible people it has within it. They need to be looked after and appreciated, and understood, for what they do and face every day.”

Mr Willing also thanked his wife Kirsten and his family for their support.

The decision to sack Mr Willing was made by new Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The decision by Premier Dominic Perrottet to pick Ms Webb as NSW Police Commissioner — the first major appointment of his tenure — came as a surprise to many in politics and the force.

For many months leading up to the decision, Mr Willing was viewed as the heavy favourite.

However the shock of that decision paled in comparison to Commissioner Webb’s call to tell Mr Willing he was not part of her future plans.

The only time Commissioner Webb has spoken about the issue was when asked at a press conference on the day of her swearing-in back in her home town of Boorowa in early February.

“I don’t want to get into someone’s employment situation,” she said.

“People come and go throughout this organisation quite often, so the employment situation is not something that I talk about.

“My job now is to get on with running the organisation, with forming my team, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Mr Willing declined to comment when contacted by The Daily Telegraph.