Chief of Police Steve Williams and former Chief John Pare
London officially has a new top cop.
Former Chief of Police John Pare stepped down in the Change of Command ceremony, giving way to new Chief Steve Williams.
The change in command is the 19th, since the force began, making Williams the 20th in the city’s history.
Pare thanked the police board for appointing Williams and gave a thorough list of his accomplishments and areas of service within the force.
Former Chief of Police John Pare
Photo by Tamara Thornton
- Patrol Operations
- Emergency Response
- Investigative Services
- Administrative Services
- Human Resources
- Risk Management
It was a room full of smiles and positive energy when Pare described and congratulated his replacement.
“Steve recognizes the changing landscape and the challenges facing policing now and in the years ahead… Steve has the skills, experience, and abilities to be our next Chief of Police. And he understands that our organization’s reputation has been built by the hard work and professionalism that is evidenced by our members each and every day.”
In his first address as chief, Williams thanked all three of the former chiefs present (including Pare) as well as the mentors he had coming up in the force. After saying goodbye to some of the departing senior officers and wishing them luck, Williams looked to the future of the force.
“I look forward to working with Deputy Chief Trish McIntyre and Deputy Chief Designate Stu Betts… Trish and Stu are accomplished leaders in their own right, who bring unique skill sets and experiences to the executive team. And I am excited about the things that we can do together as we address new challenges and continue to push forward.”
Williams commented on the grey areas that exist when policing a community, saying that it’s not just black and white.
“Difficult decisions are made that will please some and upset others. We are praised and then we are criticized. This is the reality of the environment in which we work and which we fully accept.”
He added that public oversight is what makes the police force do a better job.
New Police Chief Steve Williams
Photo by Tamara Thornton
Williams also touched on sustainability, what the community should expect from the police force, and the challenges that police face.
“The challenge for policing is to implement effective programs that meet these growing expectations, while fulfilling all requirements placed upon us by governments, legislative bodies, and all within a limited funding envelope.”
He plans to do this by looking at problems with fresh eyes, creating and maintaining partnerships with outside bodies, and implementing new and better technology in the field.
“We cannot do any of this effectively without the assistance of our community. There’s never been a time in our history where collaboration in the form of community partnerships has been so important.”
The new police chief concluded his speech by talking about how important the well-being of the police force itself is.
“Not only will it be my priority to ensure that we’re a well trained, properly equipped police service, but also to ensure that we have the proper support for our members’ physical and psychological well-being.”
Williams spoke a great deal about relationships not only within the police force, but throughout the entire community.
He, and everyone who spoke about him, inspired belief that the city of London is in good hands.
