The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) has announced that Gary Conn, Chief of Police of the Chatham-Kent Police Service, will serve as the association’s President for 2021-2022.
Chief Conn was sworn in during the OACP’s Annual General Meeting on Monday.
He succeeds Chief Antje McNeely of Kingston Police, who will remain on the Board of Directors as Past-President.
“It’s a great honour for me to be able to serve as President,” Chief Conn said in a media release.
“I am following in the footsteps of dedicated police leaders like Chief McNeely, who felt called to serve our police organizations, police professionals and the people of Ontario. These are challenging times for policing. We must always listen carefully to the people we serve and to our police members. As leaders, we must always devote ourselves to pursuing change in policing that helps build safe and just communities.”
Patrick Weaver, Chatham-Kent Police Services Board Chair, offered his congratulations to the Chief.
“On behalf of the board, I wish to congratulate Chief Conn on this honour,” Weaver said in a media release.
“With multiple changes to policing in Ontario being contemplated and implemented by the Province, our community will be well served by the Chief in his new position.”
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff said he is delighted with Chief Conn’s appointment.
“Gary has served the Chatham-Kent community through policing since 1998, moving through the ranks to become chief in 2015,” Mayor Canniff said in a media release.
“His experience and commitment will make him successful in his new role.”
Chief Conn was born and raised in London, Ontario, where he graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.
He subsequently enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces and was a Commissioned Officer with the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
In 1995, Chief Conn joined the London Police Service, and in 1998, he joined the newly amalgamated Chatham-Kent Police Service.
In 2002, he was seconded to the Ontario Police College, where he facilitated the Basic Constable Training (BCT) program.
He oversaw a number of courses, including Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Police Vehicle Operations, and Physical Training.
Over the course of his career, Chief Conn has worked in Community Patrol, Traffic, Training, Recruiting, Public Information, Honour Guard, Courts, Search and Rescue, Critical Incident Commander, and Professional Standards.
Later as Deputy Chief, he oversaw all three branches of the Chatham-Kent Police Service, including Community Patrol, Operations, and Administrative Support.
Chief Conn holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and is currently a Doctoral student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario.
He is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business, where he completed the Police Leadership Program.
He is also a distinguished graduate from the FBI National Academy (Session 258), where he further obtained a Graduate Diploma from the University of Virginia in Criminal Justice Education.
Chief Conn sits on the Board of Directors for the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre and the Chatham-Kent Gay Pride Association and is a member of the Canadian Association Chiefs of Police’s Use of Force Advisory Committee.
He is also a Knight of the Hospitaller Order of St. John, Company Sergeant Major for Delta Company of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, and was appointed Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.
