Ontario Provincial Police North East Region has a new detachment commander for the Nipissing West OPP Detachment.
Inspector Nathalie Rifou has filled the position.
"I am very proud and honored to return to my home community to lead the Nipissing West Detachment and its dedicated officers," said Rifou. "Together, we will continue to provide a gold standard front-line emergency response and investigative services to the communities we serve. I have full confidence in my team in keeping our communities safe. We will thrive on creating and maintaining partnerships with our community leaders and engage with external agencies."
Inspector Rifou started her career in July, of 1999, with the West Nipissing Police Service, working the road for 20 years, first as a constable and then a road Sergeant in 2008, as a shift supervisor, along with other duties as the Intelligence officer, Major Crime Investigator, including major drug investigations, and Scenes of Crime Officer.
In 2019, the West Nipissing Police was amalgamated into the OPP, where Inspector Rifou maintained the rank of sergeant, and within 12 months made a career advancement to be a detective sergeant with the Professional Standards Unit, being the lead investigator of a two-year major project in the Greater Toronto Area.
In 2022, Inspector Rifou was promoted to Staff Sergeant/Operations Manager at the Provincial Communications Centre in North Bay. Recently over the past seven months, Inspector Rifou was assigned to the position of Acting Unit Commander/Inspector at the Provincial Communication Centres in Orillia and North Bay, before being promoted to the Inspector of the Nipissing West OPP Detachment.
"This year marks the 50th Anniversary of OPP Women in Uniform, a milestone that highlights the significant contributions and progress made by women in the OPP. Inspector Rifou's leadership and dedication reflect the values of inclusivity and equity that continue to shape the future of policing, as the OPP recognizes the accomplishments of its women veterans and current members while empowering the next generation through recruitment and mentorship," says a news release.
