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Sources indicate deputy chief Gene Bowers will become the next chief of the Winnipeg Police Service. The hiring committee’s decision comes after months of interviews and deliberation.
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The Winnipeg Police Board announced on Friday that the interview process had concluded, and a candidate has been selected to present to city council for approval. The final steps, including reference checks, are still in progress. The chairman of the board expressed confidence that the announcement will be made before the end of the year.
City council is expected to review the recommendation at its Dec. 12 meeting, the last scheduled session of 2024. If the process cannot be finalized in time, the chair plans to request a special meeting to ensure a decision is made before the holiday break.
The police chief’s position has been vacant since September, following Danny Smyth’s retirement. Interim chief Art Stannard has been leading the service in the interim. Smyth announced his intention to step down late last year.
The police board chair explained that the hiring process required time to ensure that the right candidate was chosen for the service’s challenges. If approved, Bowers will take over leadership as the city continues to grapple with public safety issues and evolving policing demands.
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