Incoming NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller is a Sutherland Shire resident, who directed operations that prevented a recurrence of major violence on the tenth anniversary of the Cronulla riot in 2015.
Mr Fuller, who started his career at Kogarah police station in 1987 at the age of 19 and has been in charge of St George and Sutherland Shire in recent years, will take over as commissioner on Monday.
Cronulla MP and Attorney-General Mark Speakman said Mr Fuller was “a great choice”.
Mr Speakman said Mr Fuller had 30 years experience and was widely respected, including on domestic violence initiatives (see earlier story below).
“Locally, along with the Miranda Local Area Command, he was instrumental in helping to ensure that the tenth anniversary ‘commemoration’ of the Cronulla disturbances was a non-event,” Mr Speakman said.
Mr Fuller told a media conference the phone call he received to advise he had won the top job nearly caused his wife to “pass out”
He said he had plans for structural reform over the next two years that would move NSW Police into the future.
This was no criticism of his predecessor Andrew Scipione, who finishes in the job on Sunday, he said.
"I think I have a different brief to him in fairness and my brief is about moving NSW Police into the future," Mr Fuller said.
"It is not about keeping the same model we had 20 years ago.”
Mr Fuller aims to end the infighting in the upper levels of the force.
“I hear too much about, 'Are you team A or are you team B?' " he said.
“There are no more teams. There is not a team Fuller. It is about the community.”
Mr Fuller said his priorities would be the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
“If we get the structure right we can fight terrorism, not just as a response, but we can disrupt it, we can prevent it,” he said.
“We can prevent organised crime, not just respond to it.
“Those are two concerns in the community but there are others.”
The government overlooked Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn and former Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas, both of whom had been caught up the long-running police bugging scandal.
EARLIER STORY
Mick Fuller, who started his career at Kogarah police station in 1987 at the age of 19, will become the State’s new police commissioner.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Police Minister Troy Grant announced on Thursday Mr Fuller would take over from Andrew Scipione, who finishes on Sunday.
Mr Fuller, 49, is an assistant commissioner, who at present commands the central metropolitan region, which includes St George and Sutherland Shire.
Ms Berejiklian said Mr Fuller had a strong operational background and had served 16 years of his 29 years in NSW Police in senior positions, with the past seven years spent in the executive.
“I am very glad that the robust selection process has delivered an excellent new commissioner,” she said.
“Public safety is obviously a key priority for the NSW Government.
“Despite our crime rates trending down, we know the community is concerned about terrorism, and violent crime, and Mr Fuller will make sure NSW Police continue to keep our citizens safe.”
Mr Grant said Mr Fuller would lead the NSW Police Force into the future, and oversee the biggest reform to the force in 20 years.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter, and I look forward to working alongside Mr Fuller to continue providing officers with the resources they need to keep the community safe,” Mr Grant said.
“Policing is extremely challenging, but with these challenges come enormous opportunities, and the community can have great confidence in the more than 16,000 officers of the NSW Police Force under Mr Fuller’s leadership.”
Mr Fuller said taking on the role would be the “greatest honour.”
“I don’t underestimate the job ahead of me but I look forward to hitting the ground running. I am determined to put the community at the forefront of everything we do,” Mr Fuller said.
The Premier and Mr Grant paid tribute to outgoing commissioner Andrew Scipione.
“Andrew Scipione has served the people of NSW tirelessly, and I’ll always be grateful for his leadership and personal sacrifice,” Ms Berejiklian said.
EARLIER STORY
Mick Fuller, who started his career at Kogarah police station in 1987 at the age of 19, is tipped to be named as the State’s new police commissioner.
Mr Fuller, 49, is an assistant commissioner, who at present commands the central metropolitan region, which includes St George and Sutherland Shire.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Police Minister Troy Grant were expected to recommend Mr Fuller’s appointment to cabinet on Thursday.
Mr Fuller came to prominence for implementing new strategies to counter domestic violence.
In 2015, St George and Sutherland police trialled Australia’s first domestic violence disclosure scheme, allowing partners and family members to check whether a person has a record of violence.
The success of the trial led to the roll-out of the scheme across NSW.
Another initiative that was trialled in St George also proved a success, and the government said it would be implemented across the State.
Suspect Target Management Plans (STMP) identify high-risk offenders and place them on notice.
During the St George trial, nine out of 13 targeted offenders were charged, and almost a third were placed behind bars.
Several were found breaching court orders not to go near victims.
Mr Fuller said it was time offenders felt police were harassing them and that perpetrators would be treated the same as armed robbers.
He said police would "sit off their house and pull them out of the pub" if necessary.
Mr Fuller, an assistant commissioner since 2010, oversees security operations including New Year's Eve and was part of the initial police response to the Lindt cafe siege.
His earlier career including working as a detective at the City and in the Organised Crime Squad, and as a detective sergeant at Kings Cross.
Andrew Scipione, who also started his career in St George – in 1980 at Kingsgrove station, which has since closed - ends his role as commissioner on Sunday after almost 10 years in the job.
He will be farewelled with a traditional “march out” at Bankstown, where he served as a young police officer.