Winnipeg, MB - The Winnipeg Police Board’s Police Chief Recruitment Committee is recommending that Danny Smyth be appointed as the next Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service.
The Committee’s recommendation concludes a national recruitment process, in which a number of highly qualified candidates from across the country participated. The Board commenced development and implementation of its recruitment strategy in March, upon being notified of former Chief Clunis’ retirement plans, formally established its Recruitment Committee on April 1, 2016, published its recruitment timeline in early May, and completed all steps in the process as planned and on schedule.
“I would like to thank the Board members for the time and effort that they committed toward ensuring an effective and successful recruitment process, as well as People First HR Services for their fine work in managing and implementing the Board’s recruitment strategy,” said Police Board Chair Councillor Scott Gillingham.
Danny Smyth has more than 30 years' experience with the Winnipeg Police Service, and currently serves as Deputy Chief of Investigative Services. Deputy Chief Smyth has worked in a number of areas, including Uniform Operations and covert investigations in the both the Vice Unit and Surveillance Unit. He achieved his Master's Degree in Organizational Management in 2006. He also served on the Faculty of the University of Winnipeg until 2014, lecturing in the Criminal Justice Department.
During the recruitment process, Deputy Chief Smyth expressed his commitment to the Board’s strategic plan for the Service. Deputy Chief Smyth fully embraces the approach of crime prevention through social development and proactive, intelligence-led policing. He will champion the building of partnerships to address the root causes of crime, and will ensure collaboration with all levels of government, to identify the optimal role for each, to ensure the right resources are supplied at the right time by the right agency to achieve maximum collective impact.
“I look forward to continued community engagement,” said Deputy Chief Smyth. “Healthy engagement with the community is vital for our Service, and getting to know the people that make up our diverse neighbourhoods enables us to better understand the problems they are confronted with. It also reinforces the notion that we too are members of the community doing our best to help our neighbours deal with crime and disorder.
Deputy Chief Smyth also clearly recognizes the critical need to demonstrate the value of policing investments and to be accountable for effective and efficient performance, in an environment of limited resources.
“The Recruitment Committee strongly believes that Deputy Chief Smyth is the right leader for the Winnipeg Police Service at this time in its history,” said Board Chair Councillor Scott Gillingham. “With his track record of effective leadership and management, and with the full support and confidence of the Board, Smyth will be well-positioned to most capably implement the Board’s strategic plan, toward the vision of A Culture of Safety for All.”
Councillor Gillingham also expressed his great appreciation on behalf of the entire Board, for the excellent manner in which Deputy Chief Art Stannard carried out the responsibilities of Acting Chief since Chief Clunis’ retirement in July.
“The Service and the Board were indeed fortunate to have a leader of Art Stannard’s quality step up and agree to fulfill this critical and demanding role pending the selection of the new Chief,” said Gillingham.
The Board will receive the Recruitment Committee’s recommendation and make the formal appointment of the new Chief at its public meeting on November 4, 2016. The new Chief officially takes his oath of office upon being sworn in at a public ceremony planned for November 8, 2016.