Jen Lawson, Chair of the Niagara Police Services Board, has announced that the Board has selected Bill Fordy as the new Chief of Police for the Niagara Regional Police Service. Fordy is currently the Deputy Chief of Police, Support Services, with the NRPS. He will begin his role as Chief of the NRPS effective this Thursday, February 1. Chair Lawson says what impressed the Board the most about Fordy is his knowledge and experience in diverse and complex policing issues. He has been a valuable contributor to the NRPS senior leadership team over the past 6 plus years, and has a wide breadth and depth of experience in his 35-year-long career with the NRPS and RCMP. He has held key leadership positions within both policing agencies and prior to joining the NRPS as Deputy Chief, was the RCMP Assistant Commissioner overseeing all operational and administrative matters of policing in the Lower Mainland District of British Columbia. Lawson adds Fordy has overseen complex policing matters and substantial budgets at municipal, provincial, and federal levels, and has led teams through states of emergencies, high-profile investigations and is well-versed in government relations.
In 2014, Fordy was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada and in 2019 was elevated to the higher-status of the ‘Officer of the Order of Merit’ level. He has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the RCMP E Division Commanding Officers Commendation. The latter was for his outstanding service in the investigation and disappearances of a large number of women from the Metro Vancouver area. As the main interviewer of the suspect, Fordy helped develop strategies to gather evidence that eventually led to the conviction of Robert Pickton for the murders. While serving as a member of the RCMP, Chief-Designate Fordy has completed a number of university level courses as part of the MBA Program at Simon Fraser University and has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Justice Institute in recognition of his community service and contributions to justice and public safety in Canada.
He serves as a member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and serves as a member, and a former Director, of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief-Designate Fordy is the recipient of the distinguished 2023 CACP Recognition Award, presented to individuals who exemplify courage, integrity, respect, transparency, inclusiveness, excellence and compassion; and demonstrate exceptional involvement, extraordinary support, and outstanding initiative in advancing the CACP’s goals and strategic priorities. He has served as a Police Services Board Member for the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority and was a member of the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Board of Directors for the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia. A Swearing-In Ceremony for Chief-Designate Fordy will take place at a date and time to be announced.
