Karen Webb’s cancelled day off after gran was Tasered

Just 14 hours after 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland was Tasered, top cop Karen Webb’s chief of staff told colleagues that the state’s top cop intended on taking a day off.

 Just 14 hours after 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland was Tasered, Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s chief of staff told colleagues that the state’s top cop intended on taking a day off because she had to work at the weekend at an international police conference.

But, according to NSW Police, the “day off” never happened. Internal communications produced by an order of parliament have revealed fresh details about how NSW Police handled the Tasering of Ms Nowland at Yallambee Lodge nursing home on May 17 this year.

At 6.13pm that day, Ms Webb’s chief of staff Christine McDonald texted a NSW Police group chat to say that she and the Commissioner had “just landed” after a regional trip.

“Just fyi - unless called in, CoP (Commissioner of Police) and I are going to take a day off tomorrow as we have a full weekend coming up with pearls events,” the message said.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb, with and NSW Police Association President Kevin Morton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

That was a reference to the “Pearls in Policing” conference held in Sydney from May 21 to 23 - a self-described “global think tank” for “top executives in law enforcement”.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed Ms McDonald was the author of the message - sent to a group chat titled “Staffies 2023” on the encrypted messaging app Signal.

The planned day off - which NSW Police said never happened - was a long-planned day of leave for Ms Webb to attend a specialist appointment, the spokeswoman said.

Ms Webb intended to take a day off on May 18 but was forced back to work. Picture: NCA NewsWire

In a statement, NSW Police said both Ms Webb and Ms McDonald were working on May 18, from the police executive office.

“The Commissioner knew following the incident her day of planned leave would not go ahead. Communication between the Commissioner and her chief of staff happened on Wednesday evening,” the statement said.

“Commissioner Karen Webb is committed to serving the people of NSW and supporting her officers year round. Leading the NSW Police force is a 24/7 responsibility.”

The documents show that Ms McDonald was seeking regular updates on Ms Nowland’s condition. At 6.33am on Friday May 19, a senior NSW Police employee said there had been “no change”. “Just in palliative care until she passes,” he said.

95 year old Great Grandmother Clare Nowland was tasered in the early hours of May 17.

Ms McDonald responded: “All good mate. Just keeping all the wolves at bay”, followed by a prayer-hands emoji. Ms Nowland died on the evening of May 24.

Documents released to parliament also reveal the backlash copped by NSW Police after details of the Tasering were revealed by The Daily Telegraph. Mr White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault. The matter is before the courts.