After a four month nation-wide search, the London Police Service has its third deputy chief.
Treena MacSween, a veteran officer with 26-years of policing experience, was appointed to the position by the London Police Service Board on Thursday. She comes to the city from the Hamilton Police Service and is the first woman of colour to join the London police command team. Her appointment also makes her the highest-ranked Black woman officer in Canada.
"If someone had told me 26 years ago that I would be standing here and have the title of deputy chief in front of my name, I would have never believed it. I would have thought it was impossible," said MacSween. "My hope is that this promotion will serve as inspiration for others because I truly believe that if you can see it, you can be it."
MacSween first joined Peel Regional Police in 1998. She transferred to the Hamilton Police Service in 2001 and since then has risen in the ranks, becoming the service's first person of colour promoted to the rank of inspector. She went on to lead five divisions and currently runs the field support division. MacSween, who is married with two daughters, contributes to the Canadian Chiefs of Police Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and serves as secretary treasurer for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Zone 4 committee. Over her years of services, MacSween has been awarded the Association of Black Law Enforcers Trailblazer Award, YWCA Women Who Rock Award, Ontario Women in Law Enforcement Mentoring and Coaching Award, Mohawk College Distinguished Fellow Appointment and Mohawk College Alumni of Distinction Award for Community Services.
"Deputy Chief Designate MacSween walked into the board room for her first interview and after her first or second answer to our questions we recognized that we were part of something special," said Board Chair Ali Chahbar. "In addition to her professional experience, her professional skill set , background, expertise and accomplishments, it was her vision for the future of this service that distinguished her from an otherwise exemplary group of candidates. Her vision for the role that she could play in helping bring transformative change to policing here in the City of London, under the leadership of Chief Truong."
Chahbar noted that the board received numerous applications for the new deputy police role from current members of the RCMP, OPP, and municipal police services across Canada. That was in addition to internal applications.
Until now, London police had only two deputies. They are Trish McIntyre and Paul Bastien. In December, the board began the process of hiring a third. Each of the three deputies will be responsible for one of Chief Thai Truong's three priorities as he works to modernize the police service. Those priorities are community safety, community trust, and organizational wellness.
Truong has not yet announced which deputy will be responsible for which priority.
"That will be announced to my senior leadership team and to the organization in the coming weeks," said Truong.
MacSween's first official day in her new role with London police will be April 22.