About the Service Appointment of 16th Chief of Police

December 10th, 2007

Chief Keith McCaskill The Winnipeg Police Service is proud to announce that at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 10th, 2007 during a ceremony at City Hall, Chief Keith McCaskill was sworn in as Winnipeg’s 16th Chief of Police.

"Today is the beginning of change in the Winnipeg Police Service. I look forward to continued communication throughout the Service, with the two police associations and with the community we serve.

As I have said before, Winnipeg is a very diverse city with citizens from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I believe we should be proud to say we have one of the largest urban aboriginal populations in Canada. They and all the other ethnic groups throughout the City define Winnipeg. I can tell you I am looking forward to developing better communication with all of them.

It is my hope and expectation that better communication will be the catalyst in developing positive relationships.

Without those relationships I don’t think we can succeed...

I also believe we must work with the community, be honest and straight forward in telling them what we can do and what we cannot and that we are going to need the community’s involvement to solve some issues that the police simply cannot solve on its own."

Chief Keith McCaskill

Swearing-in of 16th Chief of Police, Keith McCaskill

Swearing-in of Chief of Police Keith McCaskill

November 20th, 2007

"I am writing to advise you that Mr. Keith McCaskill has been appointed Chief of Police with the Winnipeg Police Service.

Public safety is a top priority for citizens, Mayor Katz and members of Council, and I am very pleased that Keith will be taking on such an integral leadership position as we work to build a safer community. He has served our city for three decades, and is acutely aware of the unique issues facing our community in today’s challenging environment of law enforcement.

Keith, a former 29-year member of WPS, is currently the Provincial Coordinator of Aboriginal and Municipal Law Enforcement with the Province of Manitoba’s Criminal Justice Division. In this role, he is responsible for developing and administering policy and regulatory and legislative initiatives for policing in Manitoba while providing leadership and guidance to government and non-government organizations on significant policing policy issues.

Having joined the ranks of WPS in 1976, McCaskill held various leadership roles within the Service, including Divisional Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and Division Commander of District 3 and District 2.

Keith is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy, and of the Canadian Police College’s Senior Police Administration Course and Executive Development Course. He was elected President of the FBI National Academy Associates North West Chapter representing law enforcement officers from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba, and has been active on numerous boards and committees.

Keith will assume the role of Chief of Police on Monday, December 10, 2007."