The Ottawa Police Services Board is expected to soon begin interviewing candidates for the vacant chief’s job. My sources say four officers have submitted applications for the gig. They are believed to be:
Deputy Chief Charles Bordeleau: Named deputy chief in August 2010, Bordeleau is seen as an officer who could navigate the politics of City Hall and relationships with various community groups. He is currently in charge of the service’s operations, so boots-on-the-ground policing.
Deputy Chief Gilles Larochelle: He was named deputy chief in November 2007 after being superintendent of the police department’s central division. He is seen as less politically savvy than Bordeleau, but more of a cop’s cop inside the force. Larochelle currently oversees operations support, so things like criminal investigations, emergency operations and cellblocks.
Superintendent Michael Flanagan: Currently in charge of the support services directorate, Flanagan has experience working in the executive office when he was Chief Vern White’s right-hand man. He was more recently put in charge of improvements in the police cellblocks after the Stacy Bonds incident.
Superintendent Tyrus Cameron: He’s the top officer of the criminal investigative directorate, which includes major crimes. One of his last posts before being promoted to superintendent was the oversight of policing downtown sectors.
We’ll see if all four get interviews, but there’s a good chance only the two deputies will get calls to meet with board members. The two superintendents would be considered strong candidates for the subsequently vacant deputy job. The next police board meeting is March 26, so it’s fair to anticipate a winning candidate announced by then.