News
Chris D. Lewis To Be Appointed New OPP Commissioner

July 7, 2010

TORONTO – Christopher D. Lewis has been named Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) following an open and thorough selection process.

As Provincial Commander of OPP Field Operations, Lewis oversaw front-line service delivery to over 300 municipalities and a number of First Nations communities across Ontario
through a workforce of over thousands of uniformed and civilian personnel located in five OPP regions and the Aboriginal Policing Bureau.

A career police officer, Lewis brings 32 years of experience in public service. He joined the OPP from his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie and was posted as a provincial constable to Kapuskasing in 1978. He has served in diverse positions and assignments, including roles as the Director of Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario; Commander of the Emergency Management Bureau, the Eastern Region, Information Technologies Bureau and Investigation Bureau. He was also seconded to the RCMP from 1993 to 1994.

Among his many accomplishments, he oversaw the creation of the Aboriginal Policing Bureau and was responsible for all OPP planning, preparation and response to the Aboriginal National Day of Action for three successive years.

Further to numerous management, investigative and tactical training courses, Lewis has studied Aboriginal Government and Law at Athabasca University and Applied Management at Northwood University. He also completed the FBI National Academy Program as well as the Harvard Associates in Police Science Homicide course. In addition, he has regularly
lectured on leadership, investigative and operational disciplines to police associations, colleges and other postsecondary learning institutions across Canada. He has also written a number of articles for law-enforcement publications.

Lewis is also the OACP Committee Chair for the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. He is the Executive Lead for the OPP’s United Way Campaign and served as a Campaign Cabinet member for United Way of Greater Simcoe County.

In 2004, Lewis received the Order of Merit for the Police Forces in an investiture service presided over by then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. He was then promoted within the Order in 2010.

As OPP Commissioner, effective August 1, 2010, Lewis will accept responsibility for one of North America’s largest deployed police services – comprised of approximately 5,900 uniformed officers, 1,800 civilian employees and 850 auxiliary members who provide services to over 922,752 square kilometres of land and 110,398 square kilometres of
waterways. Lewis will oversee front-line delivery, administrative support services and specialized and multi jurisdictional investigations throughout the Province of Ontario.

Lewis is married to OPP Superintendent Angie Howe. They have two adult daughters.

h1. Executive Summary

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