NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb appoints new top tier in major shake-up

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has revealed her new top tier of officers after a major shake-up to the force’s hierarchy. See the full list of appointments.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has made sweeping changes to the force’s hierarchy, appointing two new deputy commissioners, two new assistant commissioners and moving more than a dozen senior officers around from their commands.

The speed and breadth of the changes made by Commissioner Webb has stunned many seasoned officers.

“The opportunity presented itself with the promotion of two deputies and two assistant commissioners as the natural time to refresh and fill some of the vacancies they created and then make other moves to fill the operational needs of the organisation,” she said on Wednesday.

“My job is to get my second row ready.”

Ms Webb also made no apologies for making the tough decision of removing Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing within days of taking over the reins.

“They are hard decisions to make but they are decisions I have to make that are in the interest of the organisation,’’ she said.

For the past month, those at the top end of the police force have been speculating about who was going to be promoted in the shake-up.

“No one had any idea at all about who was being moved, promoted or demoted. There was not the slightest hint of a leak,’’ a senior officer said.

“It has been one of the best-kept secrets I have ever seen in the cops. Normally these sort of movements would be out weeks before, it’s amazing.”

In fact, all those being transferred were only told when the Commissioner rang them with the news on Wednesday.

“How she was able to keep it all so quiet is pretty amazing. But it also tells you she ­obviously doesn’t confide in many people and makes up her own mind,’’ the senior ­officer said.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Paul Pisanos has been appointed as the deputy commissioner, along with Peter Thurtell. Picture: Craig Wilson

With the state’s first female Police Commissioner at the helm, many inside the force expected a significant number of women to be promoted to senior positions but Ms Webb surprised many with the appointments of Paul Pisanos and Peter Thurtell to the deputy spots and promotion of Rashelle Conroy and Bret McFadden to assistant commissioners positions.

“I think the job of any commissioner is to leave the organisation in a better place than I found it,’’ Ms Webb said.

“I think the team that I’m repositioning now will go in some ways towards that.”

Ms Webb said there were plenty of officers, both male and female, who would be promoted in the coming years.

“There is a really deep pool of talented officers and there will be opportunities for promotions for those officers in the future,” she said.

Other significant changes to the hierarchy include the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald to the head of the State Crime Command, one of the most sought after positions in the force.

He replaces Stuart Smith, who has been appointed boss of the southwest region, one of the toughest commands due to the amount of gun violence.

Ms Webb said he was well positioned to take over the role ­because of his experience and knowledge of ­organised crime in the area.

Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke moves from the southwest to run the Central City command.

One of the state’s most experienced detectives, David Hudson, is expected to retire at the end of the year, opening the way for more promotions.