Charles Sturt University (CSU) has played a major role in raising management and education standards in Ottawa Police, says Canadian Senator, the Honourable Vern White, who was set the task of raising these standards when was appointed as Ottawa Police Chief in 2007.

 

Chief White was an ‘outsider’ to Ottawa Police, coming from Durham police in Ontario, Canada, after an international search.

 

After his appointment, Chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board and Deputy Mayor of Ottawa, Councillor Elias El-Chantiry, charged Mr White with developing a succession plan that would create a pool of suitable candidates within Ottawa Police to take on the role of Police Chief when Mr White's term was complete in 2012.

 

This was music to Mr White's ears as he is a long-term proponent of continuous learning and officer development.

 

"I joined the police force in 1982 and never had any training for promotion right through to Police Chief. It was a crazy situation and I was determined to change it," Mr White said.  

 

He immediately reviewed professional development in Ottawa Police and put an emphasis on recognised tertiary education rather than ‘fancy’ and expensive management programs to provide the necessary balance to his best officers' operational experience and training.

 

Identified officers were provided with an opportunity to study CSU’s Bachelor of Policing, with the third group completing the course in 2012. "Charles Sturt University provided the education we wanted in the flexible manner that operational police need," Mr White said.

 

The results speak for themselves and newly appointed Ottawa Police Deputy Chief Ed Keeley is an excellent example who credits his successful career to his studies at CSU.

Deputy Chief Keeley was an excellent officer and a strong leader but when he was promoted from Staff Sergeant to Inspector he was told that he would not be considered for further promotion unless he committed to continuous learning.

 

Deputy Chief Keeley enrolled in the CSU degree and on completion was promoted to Superintendent as the executive officer of the Chief. Deputy Chief Keeley said, "I found that the 10 subjects required in completing the Bachelor of Policing program were completely relevant to my Executive role in policing".

 

Mr El-Chantiry acknowledges the success of Chief White's succession planning in bringing forward candidates with the operational and educational requirements for Ottawa Police. He was the first to congratulate Deputy Chief Keeley on his success at CSU as well as on his success as a new leader in the organisation.