Duty Bound: A police memoir

Her life's work. Her dream job. Her worst nightmare.

In February 2022, Karen Webb was appointed Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force - the first woman to lead the 22,000-strong institution in its 160-year history, and one of only a handful of women in Australia to reach the top job in policing. Her appointment was hailed as a long-overdue cultural shift.

For Webb, it marked the culmination of a lifetime in the force: recruit, detective, Deputy Commissioner, then Commissioner. A country girl who rose through the ranks to become one of the nation's most experienced investigators, she had spent decades confronting crime at the highest level.

But less than two years later, with almost half her contract still remaining, it was over. Her departure became one of the most shocking public downfalls in recent memory.

Duty Bound is the story of how one woman rose to the top - and fought to stay there. From public scandal and political pressure to the entrenched culture of a boys' club resistant to change, Webb reveals what it took to lead one of Australia's most powerful institutions while the forces around her tightened.

Through it all, she carried a private grief that shaped her years of public service: the abuse her brother Gary suffered as a child, and his later suicide. She also endured harassment herself, under the unrelenting glare of a life lived in public.

This is a raw and gripping account of ambition, integrity and survival. With unflinching honesty, Webb writes about grief, power and the quiet courage required to remain true to yourself when those around you expect you to play by the old rules.

About the author

Karen Webb was the 23rd Commissioner of the NSW Police Force and the first woman to hold the position in the state's history, marking a significant milestone in Australian law enforcement. Joining the force in 1987, she has dedicated over three decades to public service, serving in diverse roles from criminal investigations to specialized units like the Drug Enforcement Agency and Child Mistreatment Unit. Her career highlights include leading specialised units, commanding major operations such as the Invictus Games, and spearheading national research projects. She was awarded the Australian Police Medal in 2015 for her distinguished service and prior to her appointment as Commissioner, she served as Deputy Commissioner, Corporate Services. In 2026 she was appointed co-lead of the review into the conduct of the NT's Department of Children and Families.

Cydonee Mardon is chief reporter at Australia's number one online news site news.com.au. She has 35 years' experience as a journalist, specialising in crime reporting. She was previously Investigations Editor at the Sunday Telegraph and spent six years as Chief of Staff. She has also worked for Fairfax publications and Australian Associated Press. Career highlights include the Sunday Tele documentary Charlotte's Wish, covering the four-month Ivan Milat backpacker murder trial in 1996 and meeting people of all walks of life with stories to tell, especially police officers from constables to Commissioners and everyone in between.