Board of Police Commissioners hopes to name new chief this summer

The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners is almost ready to officially put out its “Help Wanted” ad for a new police chief.

Former chief Troy Cooper retired in mid-December after nearly six years as the city’s top cop, with Dave Haye announced as the police force’s interim chief starting Jan. 1.

According to Mayor Charlie Clark, the board is in the process of finalizing a contract with a recruiting firm.

“We’re working on a timeline to be able to — we hope — have a new chief in place within the next six months,” he said.

The board also knows there could be variables, including whether the successful candidate is hired from within the Saskatoon Police Service or if they may be from outside of the city.

There are certain characteristics and qualifications that the board is looking for, said Clark. That includes being able to handle a complex role that includes being part of a continuum of care to address gaps in health care, mental health and addictions supports, and a shortage of housing.

“We’re looking for an individual who has the ability to build strong community partnerships, and run a police organization as strategically as possible,” Clark added.

The board will consider applications from internal prospects, but also any that may come from other parts of Canada or even potentially internationally.

“Whoever is selected, the community’s going to want to know and the (police) service is going to want to know that that person has risen to the top of whoever the potential candidates (are),” said Clark.

He added that the sooner a new police chief can be hired, the more clarity and certainty that will provide.

“Our goal is to get this resolved as quickly as we can while also ensuring that we have a real thorough process to get there,” he added.

Both Regina and Prince Albert hired new chiefs last year.

Farooq Hassan Sheikh was sworn in as Regina’s chief of police on Dec. 1 to replace Evan Bray, who retired at the end of June. Bray subsequently replaced John Gormley on 650 CKOM’s flagship talk radio show.

Patrick Nogier became Prince Albert’s top cop in October. He joined the city’s police force on an interim basis on June 1, replacing Jon Bergen as chief after Bergen retired two weeks earlier.