With July 3rd looming as West Nipissing Police Chief Chuck Seguin retiring as chief, the local Police Services Board is moving quickly to find his replacement.
Barry Bertrand, the chair of the police board, says the board members are meeting this Wednesday to discuss the replacement process.
Bertrand says the board will make an appointment on an interim basis.
That’s because the municipal force is in the process of being replaced by the OPP.
However because the police board is challenging council’s decision to switch to the provincial police, another set of outcomes is in play.
“We’ve notified the OCPC (Ontario Civilian Police Commission) that we’re taking council to court, and they’ve delayed making a decision for about a month to give us the ability to take (council) to court,” Bertrand said.
Bertrand says if the OCPC decides that the OPP will take over the municipal police, then the appointment the board makes for a new chief will be an interim one.
“But if they do decide that yes we have a case that should go forward, then we’d be in a hiring process for a full-time hire,” he said.
As for how the board makes its appointment, Bertrand says the members may decide to look internally for a successful candidate or go to the outside.
Bertrand adds following the meeting, the board is expected to make an announcement on its decision.