After three years, North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine is resigning to go into a private sector job.
Devine became Chief on January 22, 2016, rising through the ranks from constable.
See: North Bay gets new Police Chief
And: Constable moves up the ladder
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.
The Chief says he has informed Police Services Board Chair Dennis O'Connor of his plans but has yet to speak to all the board members. The next board meeting is on the 15th. Devine says he'll discuss dates and details regarding the resignation with them at that time.
"It all came around quite quickly, just before Christmas. After the 15th I'll provide further details."
Devine holds a B.A. in Sociology from Laurentian University and began his career as a police constable, following graduation from Ontario Police College in 1988, according to the NBPS website
After four years on patrol, he was promoted to detective constable, serving with the Street Crime Unit, in Criminal Investigations, and as a member of the Emergency Response Team.
From 2005 to 2012, he successfully climbed the ranks from platoon sergeant to officer-in-charge of courts, to platoon staff sergeant, and to inspector of operations. In 2012, he was promoted to deputy chief, and in 2016, he was sworn in as the North Bay Police Service’s ninth chief of police, succeeding Paul Cook.
In 2009, Devine was seconded to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Integrated Security Unit for the planning and execution of the G8/G20 Summits.
He participated in an educational exchange with Sussex Police Hastings and Rother in 2004 and served on the North Bay Police Service's Protection Unit during the Royal Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in North Bay in 1997.
Devine is known for his significant volunteer contributions, including serving as a board member of Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing, He was recognized with the Province of Ontario’s Volunteer Service Award and the Government of Canada’s Royal Canadian Commemorative Medal for Volunteer Service in 2001.
In 2016, the Governor General recognized him as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.
Devine is a graduate of St. Joseph-Scollard Hall.
