Following Memo has been received from Commissioner Lewis.
MEMORANDUM TO:
ALL MEMBERS
Re:Appointment – Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
I am both proud and pleased to add to the accolades of Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, regarding the appointment of Deputy Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) Hawkes, Provincial Commander of Field Operations, to succeed me as Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
I have worked closely with Deputy Commissioner Hawkes for many years and am well aware of the wealth of experience that he brings with him to help him lead the OPP into this next phase of its proud service to the Province of Ontario.He has been widely recognized for his forensic identification expertise; has served in a variety of unit, section and detachment commander assignments in East Region; was the Region’s lead on several high-profile protest events in the Ottawa area; and oversaw the construction of the Smiths Falls Provincial Communications Centre as well as the amalgamation of the three existing Communications Centres into that new facility. He subsequently led the Communications and Technology Services Bureau, where he oversaw substantial change, and then led first the Investigations and Organized Crime Command and eventually Field Operations as Deputy Commissioner. Two years ago, he also served as Provincial Commander of Corporate Services for several months, at my request.In addition, Deputy Commissioner Hawkes has been at the forefront of a number of previous and several ongoing change initiatives within the OPP, as well as serving as our representative on both the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Boards. All of this experience positions him very well to seamlessly hit the ground running as the OPP’s 14th Commissioner.
Although there were some other wonderful and capable applicants, from both inside and outside the OPP, who competed in this process, I am extremely confident that Deputy Commissioner Hawkes is a perfect choice. He will undoubtedly continue the many critical projects that we presently have ongoing and will emerge with new and exciting ideas to ensure that the OPP remains the best of the best.
I will be very proud to hand him the Commissioner’s Tip Staff upon my retirement.
I know that Commissioner Hawkes will receive the same tremendous support from all OPP personnel that I have been so blessed with as your Commissioner.
Chris D. Lewis