NSW Premier Mike Baird says his government had opposed a parliamentary inquiry into a bugging scandal engulfing the state's top cops because he did not want to slow down the ombudsman's investigation into the case.
In extraordinary testimonies before a parliamentary inquiry, senior officers have publicly revealed bitter divisions over a phone-bugging scandal that saw NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas targeted by fellow deputy commissioner, Catherine Burn.
Mr Kaldas was one of more than 100 police allegedly spied on more than a decade ago as part of a covert internal corruption investigation.
The inquiry is examining a NSW ombudsman investigation into the bugging claims and their subsequent handling by police.
Despite the "disturbing" public admissions of in-fighting, Mr Baird says he has full faith in the police force.
"I am standing by our police force," the premier told reporters on Saturday.
The premier refused to comment on Ms Burn's admission during the inquiry that she had been suspicious of fellow officer Mr Kaldas when he was targeted in the operation.
Mr Baird said he would wait until the inquiry concluded before the government would respond.
"I am not disputing that some of the events we have seen are disturbing," Mr Baird told reporters on Saturday.
"I think we need to wait until we get all the facts on the table.
"I'm not going to respond to part of the facts or part of the story."
Police minister Stuart Ayres backed the force, saying its leadership had seen a reduction in crime across the state.
"There's no doubt that having the senior echelons of the NSW police force play out disputes on TV screens is not comfortable for anyone," he said.
"The reality of the performance of the NSW police force is it's lowering crime."
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