After a cross-Canada search, the Belleville Police Service Board has selected veteran Police Chief Murray Rodd to head the Belleville Police Service, replacing Acting Chief Chris Barry effective September 16th.
The Board has also appointed Belleville’s own Inspector Sheri Meeks to serve as Deputy Chief. According to Acting Chair Heather Smith and the hiring committee, Chief Rodd’s impressive leadership profile in policing, the military and academia, along with Deputy Chief Meeks’ impressive array of local accomplishments and connections both within the Service and throughout the community, bodes well for everyone. “We’ve made a lot of progress developing police-community partnerships here in Belleville, and we’ve hired the right leadership team to lead the Belleville Police and build on this progress now and into the foreseeable future. Both Chief Rodd and Deputy Chief Meeks are eminently qualified and ready for the challenges of today and tomorrow” added Acting Chair Smith.
Chief Rodd remarked “it’s an honour to lead, along with Deputy Chief Meeks, the fine women and men of the Belleville Police Service and serve the people of Belleville. I’m really looking forward to meeting and learning from folks throughout the Service and across the community as we strive to continually improve our collective safety and well-being.” Deputy Chief Meeks added “I’m humbled to start this next chapter in my policing career, working with Chief Rodd to build upon the many successes we’ve made here thus far here in Belleville.”
Mayor Neil Ellis commented, “I’m pleased to have Chief Rodd and Deputy Chief Meeks lead our police service to continue building on the strong foundation of trust and collaboration that supports our community.”
Acting Chair Smith also thanked Acting Chief Chris Barry, who retires effective October 7th, for his years of service and leadership. She also thanked the men and women of the Belleville Police Service for their patience and understanding as the Board sought out and hired the next executive leadership team.
“Leadership changes at the top of any organization can be stressful. They can also be full of opportunity. We believe the results are well worth the wait.”
Bio Summaries:
Chief Murray Rodd, O.M.M., CD, MBA served a 35-year career with neighbouring Peterborough Police Service, including a decade as the Chief of Police. He also served 21 years of Reserve Military Service, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and commanding Canada’s largest Cadet Summer Training Centre.
Chief Rodd has consulted for Trent University-Durham Campus, assembling a team of Police leaders, academics, and trainers to inform and write the curriculum for an Honours Degree in Policing and Community Well-being as well as the Senior Police Leaders Micro-Credential Certificate. More recently he has worked with Fleming College.
Deputy Chief Sheri Meeks M.O.M. has served a progressive 28-year career with Belleville Police Service in a variety of diverse, complex and demanding assignments at every level of the organization, including Acting Deputy Chief. She has served and continues to serve on numerous community committees and has extensive community engagement. She has also served on the Belleville Police Senior Officer’s Association and Ontario Senior Officer’s Association as Vice-President. Of note, Deputy Meeks has been instrumental in the development and roll out of the ongoing community mental health and addiction strategy.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
