Calgary Police Swear in New Interim Chief After Sudden Resignation of Former Chief

Police vehicles at Calgary Police Service headquarters in Calgary on April 9, 2020. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Calgary’s interim police chief has officially taken charge of the city’s police service following the unexpected resignation of former chief Mark Neufeld.

Calgary Police Service (CPS) Chief Katie McLellan was sworn in during an official ceremony on May 7. She will have the full powers and authority as chief of police until a permanent replacement is chosen.

“I am honoured, privileged, and humbled to have been selected for this role,” McLellan said in a May 7 press conference. “I would like to thank the Calgary Police Commission for putting their trust in me to lead this incredible organization.”

She said she recognized that the change in leadership was “sudden” and that the CPS is committed to ensuring a seamless transition.

“The mission of the Calgary Police Service remains the same: to continue delivering exceptional public service and to help make Calgary the best, safest city in the country with the best police service,” McLellan said.

McLellan has been with the CPS since 1987 and worked on the frontlines for the first 13 years of her career.

“As she climbed the ranks, she spent time in investigative areas and was the first Inspector of the Criminal Operations Section,” said a Calgary Police Commission news release. “More recently, she has been a key leader in developing community partnerships and changing the way that police respond to people in crisis.”

Former chief Mark Neufeld resigned unexpectedly on May 2, well before his contract with CPS was set to end in 2027. No reason for Neufeld’s resignation has been given to date. McLellan was unable to comment on the reasons behind the former chief’s resignation when questioned by reporters after her swearing-in ceremony.

“I wish the rest of the organization nothing but success moving forward,“ Neufeld said in the news release. ”I also want to thank the Calgary Police Commission as well as Council for their ongoing support of both the CPS and myself while I was Chief.”

The chair of the Calgary Police Commission, Amtul Siddiqui, said he wished Neufeld well and expressed his gratitude for the former chief’s service and leadership in improving how police misconduct is addressed.

The commission said it will not be searching for a new police chief immediately as Calgary prepares for several significant events in the upcoming months, including the G7 summit and the annual Calgary stampede.

“The Commission is confident that Chief McLellan will ensure a smooth transition, including minimizing any impacts to the G7 security planning and other key policing initiatives underway as Calgary prepares for a busy summer,” the Commission said in the May 2 news release.

McLellan also announced the retirement of deputy chiefs Chad Tawfik and Raj Gill on May 7, who will be replaced by superintendents Cliff O’Brien and Asif Rashid.