Police top brass reshuffle as Commissioner Karen Webb creates new command to oversee officer retention and wellbeing
Commissioner Karen Webb has taken further steps to stop the mass exodus of officers from the force with the introduction of a new senior position and stand-alone command to combat retention rates in a significant shake-up of top brass.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb has taken fresh steps in the ongoing fight against the waves of officers abandoning the force with the introduction of a stand-alone command to solely focus on retention rates and officer wellbeing.
As part of a significant shake-up of top brass, Ms Webb has moved Assistant Commissioner Rashelle Conroy from running the forensic evidence and technical services command to head up the new health, safety and wellbeing command as part of the reshuffle.
Conroy’s move is one of five changes to major commands and regions across NSW, which has also seen Northern Region commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, move to head up the Central Metropolitan region and former boss of highway patrol, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, taking the reins at the South West metropolitan region.
The former Western Region commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, is the new boss of the people and capability command and Assistant Commissioner Scott Whyte replaces Conroy at forensic evidence and technical services after moving from the police prosecutions and licensing enforcement command.
The positions at traffic and highway patrol, as well the northern and western regions, are believed to be advertised for promotion from superintendent ranks with acting commanders to remain in positions until they are filled.
All the assistant commissioners began their new tenures on Monday.
But it is Conroy’s brief on keeping officers fit, healthy and on the front line that is the most significant change.
The elevation of the new command, which had been under the umbrella of the force’s HR arm called people and capability, is the latest tool in combating officers going off on long-term sick or leaving the force altogether.
Ms Webb said it followed the rollout of a program 18 months ago which had seen mental health clinicians placed across area commands and police districts and health specialists, such as dietitians, nurses and trainers, available to officers.
She said the new, stand-alone command was being “elevated to report directly to a deputy commissioner” and was “reflective of our need to keep growing our focus on this area”.
“There is more work to be done and I am committed to delivering on it. I want to support all our officers at every stage of their career to ensure we are best equipped to protect the community we serve,” Ms Webb said in a statement prepared after questions were asked by The Daily Telegraph.
“Our people are our biggest asset. Only by focusing on their physical and psychological wellbeing can we make sure our officers remain on the frontline keeping our community safe.”
The Daily Telegraph revealed in May that there were more than 1500 vacancies across the entire NSW Police Force despite it being reported at almost 100 per cent capacity at the end of 2022.
Four shots, lucky escape: Bikie figure survives third hit attempt
Police are holding a well-known figure in Sydney’s criminal underworld under guard ‘for his safety’ after he survived his third assassination attempt when shot multiple times overnight.
‘Second to none’: New $41m regional police facility revealed
A new ‘state-of-the-art’ multimillion-dollar police facility has opened in the state’s central west to train regional officers closer to home. Here’s the latest.