New Barrie police chief sworn in, vows to prioritize officer wellness and community trust
Rich Johnston has been sworn in as the new chief of Barrie police.
Johnston takes over for former Chief Kimberley Greenwood, who passed the baton to him at a Change of Command ceremony attended by hundreds of people on Thursday afternoon.
Johnston has spent two decades patrolling the streets of Barrie and is well-positioned to lead the police service through the challenges it faces, including navigating the ongoing pandemic.
The new chief has set a goal of hiring an additional five officers in the new year to help strengthen the department's legitimacy and build trust with the community.
One of Johnston's main priorities will be the wellness of his officers, as he believes that for them to effectively protect the public, they must first be protected within the organization.
"It's honestly all about our member's wellness because if we want our people to be out there protecting the public, we need them protected in the organization as well," he said.
Johnston said he also recognizes the challenges facing policing at this time and aims to focus on building relationships and trust with the community through every interaction.
"I'm under no illusion that it's a rough time to be in policing. The women and men that are out there driving around, keeping our community safe are amazing people, but we need to be focused on police legitimacy in the community," he noted.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Students at Curé-Antoine-Labelle High School near Montreal are protesting after they say their school's administration started pushing what they call a 'sexist' dress code.
Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler is being disciplined for not having bodycam activated
The Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving “corrective action” for failing to have his body-worn camera activated.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Air travel is expensive. WestJet wants the government to do more to change that
WestJet is asking the federal government to put measures in place to lower ticket costs for travellers, but questions remain on who would foot the bill.
Hundreds have applied for this 'adventurer' job in Banff National Park
Coined as Banff's 'ultimate summer job,' the Moraine Lake Bus Company says hundreds of people from across the world have applied for its adventurer position.
Ottawa police investigating death of a gosling in Kanata
Ottawa police are investigating after someone allegedly stomped on a gosling in Kanata. Police say it appears that Canada geese laid eggs in the area, 'and on May 21, a suspect stomped on one of the hatched babies.'
Treasury Board president urges managers to be flexible on exemptions for new 3-day office mandate
The president of the Treasury Board is standing by the federal government's new hybrid office mandate for federal public servants, but is urging managers to be flexible for staff requiring exemptions.