New police chief named

Deputy chief Scott Tod is North Bay's new police chief, replacing Shawn Devine.

The appointment was made public at the Board meeting this morning.

Devine has resigned to take a public sector job after 31 years on the force, the last three as Chief. His last day is June 30.

Tod has been deputy chief since January 2016. He left the OPP after 33 years of service, lastly as Deputy Commissioner of the Organized Crime and Investigations Command.

BayToday was first to announce Devine's planned resignation two weeks ago.

See: Police Chief Shawn Devine to resign!

Devine told BayToday that he will be taking on the position as the executive director of OPTIC, which is the Ontario Police Technology Information Co-operative. It is comprised of 34 Municipal Police Services, six First Nation Police Services, the OPP, the Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Enforcement Branch of Ottawa Transit and the University of Toronto Campus Police, working in co-operation with the Government of Ontario.  The purpose of the Co-operative is to provide state-of-the-art information technology and data management systems.

"Honoured to accept the new role and humbled by the offer and look forward to working with the group and make it the finest police service in Ontario,” Tod told the media afterward.

The Board will now look for a new deputy chief.

"We are saddened by the retirement of Chief Devine who is a real community leader that cares for the wellbeing of our city," said Board Chair Dennis O'Connor. "At the same time, I am happy to announce the Police Services Board supports the appointment of Deputy Tod as Chief of Police."

Scott Tod bio provided by NBPS.

Scott Tod currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Police with the North Bay Police Service.  Prior to joining the North Bay Police Service in 2016, Deputy Tod served for 33 years with the Ontario Provincial Police. In 2008 Scott was promoted to Chief Superintendent and served as the Regional Commander OPP Northeast Region in North Bay. As Regional Commander he provided leadership and support to the 12 detachments in northeastern Ontario. In 2010 was appointed as the OPP Deputy Commissioner, Investigations and Organized Crime, where he provided leadership and executive command support to members involved in specialized police functions and criminal investigations.

He is a member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He has participated in many provincial, national and international law enforcement committees regarding organized crime, intelligence, counter-terrorism, and computer crimes.  He currently co-chairs the Ecrime Cyber Council, a partnership between the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Deputy Chief Tod has completed the Leadership in Counter Terrorism Program and the Canadian Forces College Canadian Security Studies Program.  In 2006, he received the Award of Excellence from the Commissioner of the Competition Bureau of Canada for his work in the area of mass marketing fraud. In 2008 Scott was a delegate at the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. He is the recipient of the Police Officer Exemplary Service Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and is an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. In 1986 he has received the Canadian Red Cross Award for Life Saving. 

Prior to a policing career, he served as an officer in the Canadian Navy. Scott and Nancy have been married for 35 years. They have three adult children and have lived in North Bay for 28 years. He is a former member of the Board of Governors with Nipissing University and is currently a member of the Board of Directors with the Gathering Place.