New commander could be here by summer
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A new detachment commander for the Ontario Provincial Police servicing the town could be hired by this summer, council learned this week.
Councillor Treena Lemay, chairwoman of the Petawawa Police Services Board, said the establishment of the OPP in the city of Pembroke clears the way to securing a new commander for the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment.
Pembroke could be seeing the OPP take over city policing by June 24, 2013. With several hearings upcoming to facilitate that change, Lemay said she has been told that key positions at the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment could be filled in the coming months.
The OPP will begin internal competition for the positions of inspector and staff sergeant. Previously, a staff sergeant filled the position of detachment commander, however, the size of the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment warrants an inspector.
"We may have a successful candidate in place by June,"
After Staff Sgt. Joe Girard left the post in 2011, Derek Needham took over as acting detachment commander. Last April, Detective Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Smith assumed those duties from Needham.
Sean Chase is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist
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