Police Commissioner Karen Webb has again come under fire after it was revealed her decision to part ways with four previous media heads in just two years had led to termination payments of $687,613.
Former Seven Network TV producer Steve Jackson was the latest to be given the boot from the highly-paid role of executive director of public affairs after his appointment was mired in controversy.
Mr Jackon's payout for his weeks-long interim appointment is likely to bring the total cost of the termination payments to more than $700,000.
The $687,613 figure was released in answers to questions from the independent NSW upper house MP Rod Roberts.
The former police officer said it was an "exorbitant" waste of taxpayer money for the dismissal of three media advisors - excluding Mr Jackson's short-lived stint - "simply because Karen Webb's not happy with them".
"If you go through three you've got to start looking at the common denominator in all this," Mr Roberts told AAP.
Grant Williams, Alex Hodgkinson and Liz Deegan were all axed from the role since Ms Webb's appointment as commissioner in February 2022.
All three were legally entitled under the Police Act to termination payments equal to 38 weeks' pay.
Mr Jackson's appointment came under intense scrutiny partially due to his friendship with Police Minister Yasmin Catley's chief of staff, Ross Neilson.
Ms Webb admitted she had asked Mr Neilson, who once ran the police media unit, for references for the role as she did not have a lot of connections in the industry.
Questions were also asked about Mr Jackson's suitability due to his role in courting Bruce Lehrmann for an exclusive interview with Seven's Spotlight program, which included an attempt to reverse another employee's company credit-card charges for a Thai massage.
Mr Jackson was let go after his role in courting Bruce Lehrmann for an interview was revealed. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
Previous media chief Liz Deegan was taken off the job after Ms Webb fielded widespread criticism of her public response to the case of Beau Lamarre-Condon, a serving NSW officer accused of murdering two men with his service weapon.
"Most cops join the police to be in the police force, not to be in the media, and so certainly I can do better and I will," the commissioner said in March.
