The Chatham-Kent Police Service have promoted from within to fill the community’s position of top cop.
Gary Conn, the Deputy Chief of police, was announced as the new Chief of Police, taking over for Dennis Poole, who is retiring later this month.
The announcement was made at the Police Services Board meeting today.
“On behalf of the Chatham-Kent Police Services Board, I am pleased to announce that D/Chief Gary Conn has been selected as the Chief-Designate for our Police Service,” stated Diane Daly, chair of the Chatham-Kent Police Services Board.
“The Board was unanimous in its decision to appoint D/Chief Conn to this position, in keeping with its ongoing succession plan. D/Chief Conn will be appointed Acting Chief of Police effective April 25, 2015, to replace retiring Chief Dennis Poole.”
Daly said the swearing-in ceremony and Change of Command will take place on Friday, May 22, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. at the Armoury Banquet and Conference Centre, 44 William Street North in Chatham.
Here is some background information about Conn, from the Chatham-Kent police website:
Gary Conn was born and raised in London, Ontario where he graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1992.
He subsequently enrolled in the Canadian Army and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
In 1995, Gary joined the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, however several months later he was hired by London Police Service.
In 1998, he joined the newly-amalgamated Chatham-Kent Police Service.
In 2002, he was seconded to the Ontario Police College where he taught a number of use of force courses, including officer safety to new recruits.
Upon his return from the two-year posting he was promoted to Sergeant.
As Sergeant, he served as a Patrol Supervisor, Training Sergeant, District Sergeant, Professional Standards Investigator and officer-in-charge of Court Services.
Gary has continued his education at Western University, where he has completed his Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Masters Degree in Public Administration.
Gary is also a Police Leadership graduate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business and is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute.
He has completed numerous courses in police operations and management through the Ontario Police College, and is a certified Level III Municipal Manager with the Ontario Municipal Management Institute.
He has taught as an itinerant instructor in the Police Foundations Program at St. Clair College.
Gary is a Director on the C-K Children’s Safety Village Board, member of OACP Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, member of the CACP Use of Force Advisory Committee, OACP Secretary/Treasurer for Zone 6 and member of the Parthenon Masonic Lodge in Chatham.
