Beau Lamarre-Condon: Karen Webb’s tough week as NSW Police commissioner
NSW’s top cop has faced a week from hell following the alleged murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by a police officer.
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NSW’s top cop endured a difficult week — including a four-hour period when she issued two apologies — as she fended off questions about her leadership and the force’s brief expulsion from Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade.
Commissioner Karen Webb and other senior figures have acknowledged the reputational damage done by the alleged murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by one of their own.
Central to the public outrage was the allegation that Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon used his police issued Glock to kill the couple at a Paddington home last week.
“We’re in this position that a police firearm was used and that can never happen again,” Commissioner Webb said.
Sam Lee, senior solicitor of police accountability at Redfern Legal Centre, said the level of standards expected by the public was “not being met” in this regard.
“The incident has really shed a light on the immense inadequacies in the policing and recording of firearms,” she said.
Not only did the alleged murders take place in the lead up to the city’s iconic pride festival, they came just months after a landmark inquiry found failings in the police’s handling of historical hate crimes committed against the LGBT community.
Peak LGBT body ACON this week said there was “a lot of sorrow in our communities”, with many people “feeling distressed by recent events”.
On Sunday, the force’s media unit dropped two press releases in the space of four hours containing separate statements from Commissioner Webb.
The first was an official apology to the victims and families identified in the Special Commission of Inquiry, acknowledging NSW Police had “failed” them.
“I assure the LGBTIQ community that under my leadership, NSW Police will use these lessons to continue to improve the way it serves all members of the community with respect, fairness, and inclusivity,” she said.
“The mistakes of the past will not define our future.”
Then came another in which she extended her condolences to the families of Mr Baird and Mr Davies, in her first official comments about the case.
“I acknowledge this week’s events are distressing for many and I share the sadness and shock about the alleged nature of Luke and Jesse’s deaths,” the commissioner said.
Commissioner Webb appeared in person at a press conference on Monday where fresh details of the alleged murders were aired, but was criticised after using the term “crime of passion” to describe the alleged motive.
She also hit out at “offensive” questions over her leadership, having not fronted a previous media briefing about the case on the day Constable Lamarre-Condon was charged.
Later on Monday, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board announced it had requested NSW Police not march in the parade as they have done for 20 years.
In a statement, the board pointed to the fact Constable Lamarre-Condon had previously marched in the parade wearing his police uniform.
“Our community needs space to grieve the loss of Jesse and Luke who, before this tragedy, would have been here celebrating with us at the Festival,” it said.
The next day, on Channel 7’s Sunrise, Commissioner Webb brushed off critics by paraphrasing Taylor Swift.
“There will always be haters. Haters like to hate. Isn’t that what Taylor says?” she said.
That drew fresh barbs her way, with 2GB heavyweight Ben Fordham labelling it as “another blunder” and Greens MP Sue Higginson calling it “disgraceful”.
The commissioner later clarified her “crime of passion” comment, saying she had intended to say that the alleged murders were born from domestic violence rather than being a hate crime.
“So I again say my apologies, if that word upset people, and it wasn’t intended that way,” she said.
Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday backed the commissioner, whom he said had a “very difficult job”.
On Wednesday it was revealed police officers would march in the Mardi Gras parade after coming to an agreement with the festival board – but they would not be wearing their uniforms.
Commissioner Webb welcomed this compromise and thanked the board for its “cordial discussions”.
Pieces in the Sydney newspapers have pored over Commissioner Webb’s record in the role, and observed the “dirty” internal politics at play within the NSW Police ranks.
She has previously weathered pressure on her job after the alleged fatal tasering of an elderly woman by a serving police officer at a Cooma nursing home last year, an incident which also caused outrage in the community.
Ms Lee said the position of commissioner was critical to setting the “culture and tone of the police force”.
“We need to ensure someone in that position has the experience and competency to ensure a high standard within the NSW Police.”
Originally published as Beau Lamarre-Condon: Karen Webb’s tough week as NSW Police commissioner
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