Karen Webb

For the American academic administrator, see Karen Schuster Webb.

Karen Webb
APM
Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 February 2022
Preceded byMick Fuller
Personal details
Born
Karen Leanne Keefe

(1969-12-25) 25 December 1969 (age 55)
Boorowa, New South Wales, Australia

Karen Leanne Webb, APM (née Keefe)[1] is an Australian police officer, who replaced Mick Fuller as the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force in February 2022.[2] Webb is the first woman appointed to this office.[3][4]

Early life and career

Webb was born and raised in Boorowa in the south western slopes of New South Wales, and attended Boorowa Central School.[5][6]

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.[7] She later stated in 2021 that she "look[s] forward to growing our diversity and inclusion in the organisation".[7] 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.[8]

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.[6]

Honours and achievements

Webb was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2015 Australia Day Honours.[1][9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Webb named among state's top cops". Boorowa News. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Commissioner Webb formally appointed at ceremony in Boorowa". NSW Government. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Nilsson, Anton; Lyons, Erin (23 November 2021). "State appoints first female top cop". news.com.au. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Keefe family proud after Karen Webb named next NSW Police Commissioner". Boorowa News. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Top cop elects for small town ceremony". Manning River Times. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Healing COVID-19 wounds among NSW's new top cop's first priorities". ABC News. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Patrons and Board". NSW Police Legacy. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Superintedent Karen Leanne Webb". It's an Honour. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
Police appointments
Preceded by Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force
2022–present 		Incumbent