Karen Webb to replace Mick Fuller as NSW Police Commissioner

Karen Webb has been unveiled as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s replacement and she has wasted no time deciding what to tackle first.

NSW has its first female police commissioner with the appointment of Karen Webb to replace retiring top cop Mick Fuller.

Premier Dominic Perrottet lauded the incoming commissioner during the announcement this morning after an emergency cabinet meeting was held.

Mr Perrottet said there is “probably no more important appointment” for the government than choosing a commissioner to lead more than 17,000 police officers.

“I believe (Ms Webb) will do a very, very good job,” Mr Perrottet said.

Incoming Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“She has the leadership skills and experience through her time in the New South Wales Police Force to lead our state well during this period.”

Mr Perrottet thanked the other contenders for the role – Deputy Commissioners Mick Willing and Mal Lanyon.

“It’s a great credit to the New South Wales Police Force and its leadership that we had such a strong calibre of candidates before us in making this decision,” he said.

Dept Comm Webb has held the position of Traffic and Highway Patrol boss. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Retiring … NSW top cop Mick Fuller. Picture: Toby Zerna

Dept Comm Webb said one of the NSW Police Force’s focus under her tenure will be supporting victims of crime – including sexual assault survivors and victims of domestic violence. “Importantly, though, (there’ll be) zero tolerance and we will be tough on criminals.”

She said she looks forward to increasing female representation in the force and that her role will be to build an organisation reflective of the community.

“I look forward to growing out the inclusion and diversity in the organisation,” she said.

Dept Comm Webb will be the state’s first female police commissioner, but Premier Dominic Perrottet said her gender was not a reason for her appointment.

“She was appointed on the basis of her talent and her leadership skills, that that was the only determining factor,” he said.

It is expected she will take over commanding the country’s biggest police force in the coming weeks.

Dept Comm Webb was the first female boss of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command. She joined the police force in 1987, and began her career stationed at Castle Hill Police Station in Sydney’s north west.

After leaving Castle Hill she rose through the ranks becoming a designated detective and worked at what was called the Child Mistreatment Unit and also did stints in the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Later in her career she was a police commander in Lismore as well as at Western Sydney.

In 2015 she was the Chair of the 100 years of Women in Policing Committee.