Change of Command Ceremony
from
Chief Kimberley Greenwood
to
Chief Rich Johnston
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Southshore Community Centre, Barrie
The Change of Command is a time-honoured ceremony designed to mark the occasion when the responsibility of command is passed to the incoming Chief of Police. The outgoing Chief, the Chair of the Police Services Board and the incoming Chief participate in this ceremony.
The Honour Guard presents the outgoing Chief with the symbol of command and authority — a silver sword. The Chief presents the sword to the Police Board Chair who is the civilian authority and, as such, is responsible for transferring command and authority to the incoming Chief to complete the transfer of command responsibility.
This is one of the most formal ceremonies conducted by the Police Service, signifying the end of one era and the beginning of the next.
Greg Ferguson
Chair, Barrie Police Services Board
Robert Thomson
Vice Chair, Barrie Police Services Board
His Worship Mayor Alex Nuttall
Arif Khan
Lynn Strachan
Danielle Hutchinson
Board Administrator
Program
Welcome
Constable Stephanie McKibbon
Honour Guard Procession
Smudging Ceremony
Barrie Native Friendship Center
Indigenous Drumming Group
Intertribal Peacekeeper Drumming Group
Land Acknowledgement
O Canada
Sung by Nicole Lees
Prayer of Invocation
Police Chaplain Craig Head
His Worship, Mayor Nuttall
Retiring Chief Kimberley Greenwood
Change of Command Ceremony
Swearing In
Justice Sarah Tarcza
Remarks – Sergeant John Brooks
Barrie Police Association President
Remarks – Greg Ferguson
Chair, Barrie Police Services Board
Chief Rich Johnston
Retiring Chief Kimberley Greenwood
Chief Greenwood started her policing career in 1981 with the Toronto Police Service and joined the Barrie Police Service as Chief in March 2013.
During her time in Barrie, Chief Greenwood served as President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and Vice President of Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. She is also Chair of the Canadian Police Knowledge Network, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and past Chair of the Coalition of Children, Youth and Family, and sits on the Board of Governors Georgian College.
Chief Greenwood contributed significantly to the development of the Canadian Framework for Collaborative Police Response on Sexual Violence, the National Framework for Collaborative Police Action on Intimate Partner Violence, the creation of the Police Leadership Competency Framework, and the Collaborate Barrie Situation Table.
Chief Rich Johnston
Chief Johnston has been with the Barrie Police Service since 1998, serving in a variety of roles throughout the Service, including uniform patrol, Tactical Support, Operational Support, and Investigative Services.
He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Queen’s University, a Master’s in Leadership Studies from the University of Guelph and is currently working towards his master’s degree in Applied Criminology and Police Management from the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom).
Chief Johnston joined the senior command in 2018 as an Inspector, and was appointed as Deputy Chief in 2021. In 2022, Chief Johnston received the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Excellence in Leadership Award and was inducted into the Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame at the Centre for Evidence-Based Crime Policy at George Mason University.
Barrie Police Service
The Barrie Police Service originated in 1853 with the appointment of Joseph Rogers as Chief Constable. Today it continues as the second oldest police service in Ontario. The city of Barrie is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and is situated on the shores of beautiful Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe.
Today’s Barrie Police Service is committed to providing accountable, responsive and cost-efficient policing services to the citizens of our city, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. We have grown from one County Constable to a Service composed of more than 245 sworn police officers and 121 civilian members.
From |
To |
Chief |
1853 |
1888 |
Chief Joseph Rogers |
1888 |
1924 |
Chief Robert King |
1924 |
1945 |
Chief Alexander Steward |
1945 |
1956 |
O.P.P. contract services |
1956 |
1976 |
Chief Ed Tschirhard |
1976 |
1985 |
Chief Earl Snider |
1985 |
2000 |
Chief Jack Delcourt |
2000 |
2010 |
Chief Wayne Frechette |
2010 |
2013 |
Chief Mark Neelin |
2013 |
2022 |
Chief Kimberley Greenwood |