Sarnia's Acting Police Chief is expected to arrive in the city on Monday to begin his second official week on the job.
Mike Federico was sworn in last week to take over for Chief Derek Davis who is the subject of an ongoing workplace harassment investigation being undertaken by Toronto-based Marshall Workplace Law.
Federico, who has 45 years of policing experience including as a deputy in Toronto, was appointed to the role May 29 under recommendation from the province.
His initial start date was June 15, but that was pushed ahead slightly following news that Deputy Chief Ron Hansen and a civilian member of the service had also been suspended pending the outcome of a workplace investigation.
In an interview with Sarnia News Today, Federico said although his contract is only for one year, he's hoping to make an impact locally.
"I want to help stabilize the leadership in the Sarnia Police Service during this transition period, and build on the good relationships that it has developed, both with its own members, but also, this is important, with the community," said Federico. "What we want to do is make sure that the members of the service can continue to deliver policing to the community uninterrupted, and maintain that continuity. And of course, increasingly build relationships in the community so that it's a true partnership."
Federico said there are a number of concerns to be addressed locally.
"Under housing, food insecurities, homelessness, drug trafficking, organized crime, predatory behavior. These are all challenges that communities face and quite rightly, they turn to the police for assistance," he said.
Federico realizes there's the risk of community skepticism whenever there's a new face coming in from a different region.
"I've got to overcome that and I'll work to do that. Make sure that people feel that they can have confidence that the investment in time and getting to know me and work with me and the service is worth their while," said Federico. "I do come in without any contextual concern. I've got an experience in helping services transition and I'm a fresh face in case anybody felt a little anxious about dealing with the previous administration. Well, they get introduced to somebody new."
Federico said the Sarnia Police Services Board likely won't be making any comment on the outcome of the review into Chief Davis.
"It's not a statement of judgment. It's just that people have asked for a better understanding of the previous administration and the board responded. I think the community and the members can take some comfort in that," he said.
Police said Federico has worked with provincial oversight bodies in the past to help steer police services through periods of leadership transitions.
Josh Boyce's full interview with Acting Chief Federico, on the Beyond the Headlines podcast can be found on Sarnia News Today's website.
Meanwhile, Chief Davis recently dropped his $1.5 million lawsuit, filed against Nathan Colquhoun and the Sarnia Media Group, owner of the Sarnia Journal.
In mid-April, Chief Davis announced he was suing the company, citing allegations of libel.
