Deputy Chief Recruitment and Leadership Structure Update

The North Bay Police Service Board (NBPSB) has hired Waterhouse Executive Search to conduct a national search for a Deputy Chief of Police.

The goal of this fair and open process is to identify a leader with the experience, integrity, and skills necessary to work collaboratively with the NBPSB and the Chief of Police in providing exceptional police services to the citizens of North Bay. Further details regarding the search will be announced by Waterhouse Executive Search in the coming days.

This recruitment will fill the current Deputy Chief vacancy, which has been held by an Acting Deputy Chief since spring 2025. It also supports a strategic change to the North Bay Police Service’s (NBPS) leadership structure, which will include up to two permanent Deputy Chief positions.

The Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), which replaced Ontario’s former Police Services Act, has increased administrative, governance, compliance, and reporting responsibilities for Deputy Chiefs and other senior leaders. It has also strengthened the role of police service boards, resulting in more briefing requirements, reporting, policy development, and ongoing coordination between the service and the board. As a result, policing has become more complex, making succession planning increasingly important. Effective succession planning helps reduce organizational risk by maintaining leadership during retirements, leaves of absence, or other transitions with minimal disruption. It also supports leadership development, prepares future leaders for advancement, and helps preserve critical organizational knowledge.

In the interim, an Acting Deputy Chief is in place at NBPS to ensure continuity of leadership and operations during a temporary leave of absence by the current Deputy Chief, who is on an approved leave of absence. Out of respect for privacy, no further details will be provided, and the NBPSB wishes him well and looks forward to his return.

Once the current Deputy Chief returns and the recruitment process is complete, both Deputy Chief positions will be filled, further strengthening succession planning and executive capacity.