“The Nemesis is a 31-metre offshore vessel used as a command post on New Year’s Eve. There was no impact to the operational capability of the vessel.
“In hindsight, I recognise that I should have thought more carefully about the appropriateness of inviting another couple to attend with me, even though my intention was to observe the policing operation and learn more about the Marine Area Command’s activities.”
On New Year’s Eve, the Nemesis – which is kept at the Marine Area Command’s headquarters in Balmain – is used as an on-water command post.
The NSW police boat OPV Nemesis.Credit: Louise Kennerley
It stays on the water until after midnight, directing the smaller boats. It would usually be near the Harbour Bridge after the fireworks, keeping an eye on the chaos of small craft heading back to their moorings.
Lanyon did not respond to a query about whether alcohol was consumed.
Allegations about lower-ranking officers are investigated by the Professional Standards Command. However, complaints about senior officers are often referred to LECC, so police do not have to investigate their bosses.
The government has taken its time to make a decision on the commissioner. The first round of interviews was held almost two months ago, in late July. It faces a looming deadline; outgoing boss Webb’s last day is on September 30.
If deliberations stretched beyond that, it would have to reappoint an acting commissioner.
Webb, the first female commissioner, quit almost two years before her five-year term was due to finish.
While Premier Chris Minns says it was her decision, multiple political and police sources say he wanted and encouraged her to go, partly because she did not have the support of the powerful Police Association. Lanyon has the association’s support.
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Lanyon was the frontrunner for the job when it was last vacant in 2021, but his chances were thwarted by a drunken incident near the Goulburn police academy, when an ambulance was called because he was lying non-responsive on a footpath.
He then told treating paramedics to “f— off” and rang their boss, the chief executive of Ambulance NSW, Dr Dominic Morgan. LECC did not initially investigate, despite seeing the story in the media, because there was no complaint.
It later sought more information, it said, but was satisfied with the NSW Police Force’s handling of the matter. Then-commissioner Mick Fuller told the NSW budget estimates that he counselled Lanyon about his conduct.
After the Goulburn incident, some police officers felt Lanyon’s behaviour was not given the same scrutiny that theirs would have been if they had acted similarly. One, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak freely, said this complaint has reinforced that view.
“The Goulburn police academy had a lesson on the police code of conduct. One of the points is that police must use public resources responsibly,” they said. “The example given was of a cop who uses the work phones for private calls excessively. But they didn’t say anything about taking the flagship of the fleet out [on the harbour], so that must be OK?”
Lanyon is a deputy commissioner but has been on secondment to the Reconstruction Authority, which helps communities recover from and prepare for natural disasters, since April last year.
Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley were approached for comment.
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