Sudbury's top cop leads provincial chiefs

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE

************************* Greater Sudbury Police Service Chief Ian Davidson becomes new president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police

NIAGARA FALLS, ON, June 18 - Chief Ian Davidson of the Greater Sudbury Police Service has succeeded Toronto Police Service Chief William Blair as president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

Chief Davidson was sworn into office at the conclusion of the OACP's 57th annual conference and trade show held in Niagara Falls June 15-18.

Chief Davidson is the fourth OACP president from Northern Ontario and the first since 1990, when Chief Rick Zanibbi of the Greater Sudbury Police Service headed the organization.

"I am deeply honoured to serve as OACP president," said Chief Davidson. "Our organization plays a key role in making Ontario safe as the voice of Ontario's police leaders. Just as law enforcement in Ontario faces many challenges in order to respond to the changing needs of the communities we serve, our association must also respond to the evolving needs of our membership and the citizens we serve."

Davidson highlighted a number of areas where he sees the OACP continuing to work on behalf of our police services and communities, including: - Provincial funding for court security and prisoner transportation costs - Fair and equitable funding for all our member services - Support for the advocacy efforts of First Nations police services - Fairness and accountability in the new public complaints system, and - Legislative reform in such areas as pawnbrokers legislation and suspension with pay. "I believe that we as Ontario's police leaders must work closely with government decision-makers, civilian members of police services boards, and other groups that have a stake in policing issues to address the safety challenges facing our province and country," said Davidson. Also elected to the OACP's executive for 2008-09 were: - First vice-president: Chief Daniel Parkinson, Cornwall Community PS - Vice-president: Chief Derek McElveny, Brantford PS - Vice-president: Deputy Chief Chuck Mercier, Durham Regional PS - Vice-President: Chief Matthew Torigian, Waterloo Regional PS - Secretary/treasurer: Acting Chief Robert Napier, Kingston PS. Members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police serve their communities as the senior police leaders in municipal, regional, provincial, national and First Nations police services across Ontario. Chief Ian Davidson

Chief Davidson has been a police officer for 30 years, having commenced his career with the Ottawa Police in 1978.

He achieved the rank of inspector in charge of criminal investigations in Ottawa, and in 1999 was the successful candidate for the position of superintendent of the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

In 2002 he was selected as the chief of police.

Chief Davidson has a wide range of experience having served in virtually all areas of policing including the patrol division, the tactical team, criminal investigations, major crime, homicide and administration.

As a result of the Somalia Inquiry, Chief Davidson was appointed a member of the Military Review Group chaired by Chief Justice Brian Dickson (retired), to travel across Canada to review the Canadian Military Police investigative capacity and make appropriate recommendations for change.

In 2004, Chief Davidson was appointed to the Premier's Panel on Post-Secondary Education chaired by the Honourable Bob Rae.

The group reviewed the design and funding of the post-secondary system in Ontario.

Ian holds a bachelor's degree - major in law - from Carleton University.

He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management Police Leadership Program, as well as the Ontario and Canadian Police College.

He sits as a member on a number of local, provincial and national committees, including the Advisory Committee for the Rotman School of Management Police Leadership Program and the Canadian Police College Advisory Board and he was appointed to the position of president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police in June 2008.

He is very active in the community and has championed a number of local and provincial issues that include visible minorities, aboriginal, seniors and youth initiatives.

He is a founding chair of the Narcotics Task Force, a member of the Rotary Club of Sudbury and the Sudbury Food Bank.

Ian has received numerous provincial and national awards for exemplary police and community service.

On May 27, 2007 Chief Davidson was awarded the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada at a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Chief Davidson believes in service above self and has used the office of chief of police to expand his influence to improve the quality of life for everyone in Sudbury and in the province of Ontario.

Ian and his wife Kathie have two adult sons, Brian and Bradley. *************************