Karen Webb gives important advice for other women rising through the ranks

News.com.au

06-06-2025

Outgoing Police Commissioner Karen Webb has some important advice for other women rising through the ranks of the NSW Police Force.
'To other women I would say stay positive, stay focused and keep your eyes wide open,' Commissioner Webb said.
Commissioner Webb concedes she was 'naive' about some elements of the job and the negative impact it has had on her partner and children.
'I applied for the job thinking, 'well, I've been in every rank, I know the organisation', and when I got the position description it's actually advertised as a CEO, so you know, maybe naively, I thought 'well I can do all that' but what the expectation was, and what it turned out to be, is different I guess.'
On her last day in the top job Commissioner Webb revealed to news.com.au she will be using her extensive 38-year career in policing to help end the scourge of domestic violence.
She said she is 'not done yet', and has accepted a role with NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison, looking to using her experience, expertise and compassion to continue working for victims.
'Monday is day one of a new challenge. My policing career has really been primarily about the victims and I'm certainly not done yet. I have a lot more to give,' Ms Webb said on Friday.
'I am at the peak of my professional career, my leadership career and I am looking forward to this opportunity and future opportunities.'
Ms Webb confirmed in May she would step down after discussions with her family.
The Commissioner said it was a sad day, but she was buoyed by the support of her colleagues, the constant stream of messages from troops on the ground since she announced her retirement.
'I was stopped for a random breath test on my way back home to Boorowa one weekend and the officer, I didn't know her, she said she was really sad I was leaving,' Commissioner Webb said.
'I told her that I was really sad too. I mean there's lots of 'I'm happy' at the same time, happy to take the pressure off my family, happy at what I have achieved, but it's also sad.
'I've never been one to look back, because you can't change the past, but it's with a tinge of sadness as well. It's been a big part of my life, almost my entire professional life, for 38 years.'
Ms Webb has been forced to deal with internal detractors leaking against her and constant criticism of her performance in front of the cameras for most of her tenure.
She maintains she is a police officer, not a media personality, and her priority has always been to put her troops first.
'The headlines are there for everyone to see, they have been there for the entire three years of me in this role, so people can make up their minds about their assessments of my performance, I will leave that to public opinion not sections of Sydney.'
She concedes she may have been 'naive' about some elements of the job and the negative impact it has had on her partner and children.
'I applied for the job thinking, 'well, I've been in every rank, I know the organisation', and when I got the position description it's actually advertised as a CEO, so you know, maybe naively, I thought 'well I can do all that' but what the expectation was, and what it turned out to be, is different I guess.'
Ms Webb became the first woman appointed to become NSW police commissioner in February 2022, and led the force through a series of major events, including the Bondi Junction stabbings, the Dural caravan 'fake terrorism plot', and the alleged double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by a serving officer.
She came under fire for comments she made, thanking alleged murderer Beau Lamarre-Condon for providing information about the location of the bodies and for opting not to watch footage of police officer Kristian White tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland.
Ms Webb was also investigated over the taxpayer-funded purchase of 50 bottles of gin which were handed out as gifts and charity donations.
She was cleared of wrongdoing but cautioned that she should have disclosed her relationship with the gin supplier. 
Reflecting on her three-and a half years in the top job, Ms Webb said she has 'never been one to look back, because you can't change the past'.
'I'm proud of what I have achieved, the changes I have made and police officers have always been my priority,' she said.
'I've walked in the officers' shoes, I started out as a constable and I have worked in all sorts of different roles and locations across the state, so I understand the challenges, the things they face.'
In her new position the Commissioner will draw on the experiences and lessons learned by other states and territories in order to devise a framework to be presented back to the state Government by the end of September.
She will work closely with general practitioners, allied health professions, childcare providers and lawyers in her new position - people with trusted relationships with victims-survivors.
'I think I have a lot to give in this space,' she said.
'The issue of DV is an urgent one, so we need to do everything we can as soon as we can to make sure we are helping victims and survivors the best way we can.'
Ms Webb has held a passion for domestic violence work since her early days in general duties.
'Back in 1987 I worked in child abuse, dealing with victims and their families, then dealing with sexual assault, the victims and their families, so really a lot of my career has been around victims, particularly gender based violence and victims that don't have a voice.
'DV only became an offense the same time I joined the police, there has been so much change so really the next critical step in assisting victims and survivors, but also preventing domestic violence.'
She said some of the most traumatic cases that have stuck in her mind during her time as commissioner are the brutal deaths of Danielle Finlay-Jones, Molly Ticehurst and Mackenzie Anderson.
'I guess the deaths of those three women have really stayed in my mind, because of the violent nature of the offending and the deadly consequences.'
In a parting gift to her officers Ms Webb announced a new DV tool in the police arsenal, that will mean spending more time with victims.
The mobile tool officers carry on jobs now allows them to complete log the full details of a 'DV episode' at the scene of an incident, apply for and serve ADVOS at the scene and see automated alerts relating to an offender's domestic violence history.
'This will mean police officers can spend more time with victims, cuts the paperwork and saves them time so they can be out responding to jobs rather than being tied up with paperwork.'
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison told news.com.au: 'I'm pleased that Commissioner Webb will be working with us in this new capacity as we continue our work to build a safer New South Wales.
'Commissioner Webb has spent years on the frontlines of addressing domestic, family and sexual violence. She has been a vocal advocate on the urgency to address this crisis and women's safety.
'I welcome her expertise and experience as we implement a New South Wales Common Approach to Safety.'
The Minister said Commissioner Webb 'has spent years responding to domestic and family violence when it reaches a crisis point and knows how important it is that we strengthen our prevention and early intervention approaches'.
'The Common Approach to Safety framework is a key piece of work, which the government is investing in, to make sure workforces outside of the specialist domestic violence services can recognise, respond and refer any disclosures of abuse.
'This is a nationwide crisis, and it is important that all states and territories work together to address it. Commissioner Webb will play an essential role in consulting with other jurisdictions to ensure we are taking informed action that works. There's no doubt we can learn from what has and has not worked for other governments.'
Ms Webb's replacement Peter Thurtell said on Friday that his predecessor should be 'proud for the rest of her life' of what she has achieved.
'The New South Wales Police Force was formed in 1862 when they merged a number of policing organisations and since that time, approximately 70,000 people have been members. Only 23 of those 70,000 have ever made it to the top, and only one of those 23 has ever been a female,' Mr Thurtell said.
'Our organisation will miss a leader with compassion who has the ability to relate to the men and women of the organisation. And I know I've said this to it before, but someone who's sharp as a tack.'
Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith said Ms Webb had been a leader who supported and guided her troops while 'instilling authentic, humble and elegant leadership'.
'I think there is fundamentally in terms of what ma'am has brought to our organization an absolute focus on making sure that our people are our most valuable asset and placed first.
'We have really seen a change in our culture around respect, pride and trust, they are all the things our commissioner embodies. It's a sad day.'
A little known fact about the outgoing leader is her ability to handle a weapon.
Asked about rumours she remains one of the top shots at annual weapons training, she said 'Oh I don't know about that, I'm not too bad'.
After a little more prodding she reluctantly reveals she's been getting close to perfect scores for the past 38 years.
'I don't find shooting hard, but yeah it's not everyone's comfort zone. But I was trained on the old Smith and Wesson, which is really quite hard to shoot with. So now these new Glocks and things, they seem much easier compared to that.'
Commissioner Webb won't buy into the contest nor give her opinion on the contenders to replace her.
Instead she is offering advice for rising females.