Karen Webb
Karen Webb | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force | |
| In office 1 February 2022 – 6 June 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Mick Fuller |
| Succeeded by | Peter Thurtell (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Karen Leanne Keefe 25 December 1969 Boorowa, New South Wales, Australia |
| Children | Two |
Karen Leanne Webb, APM (née Keefe)[1] is an Australian former police officer, who replaced Mick Fuller as the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force in February 2022.[2] Webb was the first woman appointed to this office.[3][4] She left the position on 6 June 2025.[5]
Early life and career
[edit]Webb was born and raised in Boorowa in the south western slopes of New South Wales, and attended Boorowa Central School.[6][7]
Webb joined NSW Police in 1987 and previously was responsible for traffic and highway patrol and public transport.[3] She joined the Castle Hill Police Station, in the 1990s at a time when 10% of police officers were women, and grew to 35% as at 2021.[8] She later stated in 2021 that she "look[s] forward to growing our diversity and inclusion in the organisation".[8] Webb was the first woman to lead Traffic and Highway Patrol, since 2020.[3] She was promoted in 2017 to assistant commissioner, and subsequently moved to deputy commissioner in July 2021.[3] She has been a Board Member of NSW Police Legacy since 2018, and Vice-Patron since 2022.[9]
On 1 February 2022, Webb was formally appointed as Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force.[2] Previous police commissioner ceremonies were traditionally held at Government House in Sydney, but Webb chose to accept her appointment in her alma mater at Boorowa Central School.[7]
In May 2025, Police Minister Yasmin Catley announced that Webb intends to step down as NSW Police Commissioner, and will be retiring from the force by the end of September.[10] After leaving the position of commissioner on 6 June 2025, she took up a role of special advisor on domestic violence to the NSW government.[5]
Honours and achievements
[edit]Webb was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2015 Australia Day Honours.[1][11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Webb named among state's top cops". Boorowa News. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Commissioner Webb formally appointed at ceremony in Boorowa". NSW Government. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d Rawsthorne, Sally; Hunter, Fergus; Rabe, Tom (24 November 2021). "Karen Webb becomes first female NSW Police Commissioner". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Newspapers. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ Nilsson, Anton; Lyons, Erin (23 November 2021). "State appoints first female top cop". news.com.au. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b Duffin, Perry (6 June 2025). "Webb appointed DV adviser as she exits top job". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Keefe family proud after Karen Webb named next NSW Police Commissioner". Boorowa News. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ a b Gardiner, Stephanie (1 February 2022). "Top cop elects for small town ceremony". Manning River Times. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ a b Parkes-Upton, Heath (24 November 2021). "A 'career cop' with big plans for a post-COVID world — meet NSW's new police commissioner Karen Webb". ABC News. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Patrons and Board". NSW Police Legacy. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Karen Webb resigns as NSW police commissioner". ABC News. 7 May 2025. Archived from the original on 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ "Superintedent Karen Leanne Webb". It's an Honour. Retrieved 24 November 2021.