‘That’s offensive’: NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb erupts over leadership question
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has defended her performance over the Jesse Baird and Luke Davies investigation; she says officers will march in next month’s Mardi Gras parade.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has defended her leadership of the force as she faced questions on Monday as to why she did not appear before the media after the arrest of constable Beau Lamarre-Condon.
Commisioner Webb was appearing at an at-times fiery press conference on Monday with Deputy Commissioner David Hudson where they shed light on investigations into the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, who police allege were murdered by Lamarre-Condon.
“That’s offensive. In fact I’ve already said this morning, on Friday I was in budget estimates which is a parliamentary hearing sworn on oath between nine and 5.30 in the day,” Commissioner Webb said on Monday when asked why she didn’t make a public appearance sooner.
“The accused handed himself in on Friday, he was charged on Friday. On Saturday morning, I attended the Sunrise event in Bronte Park … to remember those gay men that lost their lives there.”
Striking a defiant tone, Commissioner Webb added: “Of course I’m doing my job. But I need to let my detectives do the job that I asked them to do.”
She also revealed she had spoken to Baird’s brother and father.
Commissioner Webb was aggressively questioned at the press conference on Monday morning as to why the initial investigations treated Baird as a potential perpetrator, rather than a victim.
Ms Webb partially attributed initial suspicion that Baird could be the perpetrator of a crime against Davies to Lamarre-Condon’s use of “decoy” texts. By impersonating Baird using his phone, Lamarre-Condon was able to confuse police for a period.
When questioned on the decision by police to withhold the fact they were investigating a police officer in connection with the crime, Deputy Commissioner Hudson said it was necessary for the police operation.
“An investigative decision was made, if that information was well-known and it had been broadcast more broadly, we were concerned of self-harming or the disposing of evidence,” he said.
The Commissioner came under fire when it was found that Lamarre-Condon allegedly used his service weapon in the alleged double homicide, with commentators arguing it signalled a lack of thorough firearm management.
Commissioner Webb has since ordered an independent review into how a serving NSW police officer could access their sidearm outside of hours. The Daily Telegraph reported that Lamarre-Condon was able to get access to his firearm last Sunday by claiming he was doing a “user pays” shift, performing duties at a pro-Palestinian rally in the city.
“It is a failure if somebody has used the service firearm in the manner it is alleged, so a review is necessary,” Commissioner Webb said.
“We have robust policies and procedures as outlined by Mr Hudson. But if there is a gap and an opportunity to improve our systems, we will do.”
Lamarre-Condon was accused of using excessive force in 2020 when video of him tasering a man in the face during an arrest went viral. He was cleared of wrongdoing.
Police are investigating his initial psychiatric evaluation upon joining the police force, and other initial recruitment information.
The NSW Police department has faced similar accusations of excessive force in recent years, namely when Kristian White tasered 95-year-old Clare Nowland to death in 2023.
Commissioner Webb’s first public statement on the investigation came on Sunday afternoon, five days from when the case commenced.
“I understand there are many unanswered questions and while I cannot comment on the matter before the courts, I can reassure Luke and Jesse’s loved ones, and the people of NSW, that we are working around the clock to find those answers,” the statement reads.
“I ask the community to have patience as police work to determine what happened.”
Ms Webb was adamant that police would still appear in this year’s Mardi Gras march, despite the alleged actions of Lamarre-Condon, who marched at the event in the past.
“We have been building a bridge with the gay and lesbian community,” she said. “We have been participating in Mardi Gras for the last 20 years and haven’t missed a year.
“I would hate to see that this is the year that we are excluded because of the actions of one person that is not gay hate related, this is a crime of passion, we will allege. It is domestic related, we allege, and that would be a real travesty for this organisation to be excluded.”
The Premier has stood by Ms Webb’s investigative handling.
“My understanding is that she is doing that and obviously taking questions in relation to the investigation and other issues that are taking place in Sydney,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said in defence of Ms Webb to 2GB on Monday.
“Being the police commissioner is different to being the premier, the primary responsibility of the police commissioner is to do the job and that is to investigate crime and arrest the people who commit those crimes.”
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