Hunt is on for Saskatoon's next police chief
- NC Raine | September 08, 2017
The Saskatoon board of police commissioners have begun the search for a new Chief of Police.
Commission chair Darlene Brander announced Wednesday, September 6, that recruitment is now underway to replace retiring Chief of Police Clive Weighill, who served for eleven years as leader of Saskatoon's law enforcement.
“We have (...) heard how important it is that the commission recruits a new Chief of Police who will continue the relationship building within the community and who continues to fully engage all members of the Saskatoon Police Service,” Brander told reporters Wednesday.
Brander noted that the Commission would direct the recruitment campaign to ensure that the qualities in a police chief are transparent and reflect the community's interests.
“We're expecting national interest with this particular competition; we are expecting internal interest,” said Brander. “We are looking for the most suitable candidate for our community going forward into the future.”
With the application period closing on October 6, the police commission expects the position to be filled by the first quarter of 2018, said Brander.
“(We are looking for) the new police chief to be innovative in their approach and looking to deliver police services in a cost-effective manner,” said Brander.
Brander also said building relationships with Metis and First Nations would be a priority.
“Eleven years ago, the city and the police service were looking for a little bit of change, and we are at the point now where we have a modern, progressive police force and we are looking to take that forward,” she said.
Members of the community are invited to participate in the recruitment process by sharing their opinions in a short survey gauging the most important attributes to a new chief.
“We are working our way through this recruitment and hiring process in a very deliberate and careful manner,” said Brander.
“The commission will take the time required to ensure those expectations are met.”
Deputy Chief Mark Chatterbok will serve as Police Chief in the interim, following Chief Weighill's official retirement on October 1.