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Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella announces retirement

Sep. 6, 2023, Halifax, N.S. – Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella announced his retirement at the recent Halifax Board of Police Commissioners meeting.

“After 37 years of policing, I am announcing my retirement. It’s been an honour and a privilege, and I am grateful to the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners and Halifax Regional Council for the opportunity to serve as Chief of Police for the last four years,” said Chief Kinsella. “My greatest thanks go out to HRP members whose professionalism and dedication I have witnessed with the greatest pride and gratitude, to members of Hamilton Police Service before then and all those professionals that I’ve had the honour to serve alongside.”

Chief Kinsella began his policing career in 1986, and prior to becoming Chief of Police for HRP in July 2019, he served for 33 years with Hamilton Police Service, retiring as Deputy Chief. Chief Kinsella’s retirement will take effect on September 15. Halifax Regional Municipality will begin the search for the next Chief of Police in the fall of 2023, and an Acting Chief of Police will be appointed by Sep.15 to lead Halifax Regional Police during the transition.

“Chief Kinsella led Halifax Regional Police through a tumultuous period within society at large and policing in particular, with challenging circumstances that included a global pandemic, growing calls for accountability in policing internationally and locally, and, tragedies that impacted our own communities,” said Halifax Board of Police Commissioners Chair Becky Kent. “We thank him for his leadership throughout this difficult time with his sharp focus on public safety and operational continuity.”

“On behalf of the Halifax Regional Municipality, I thank Chief Kinsella for his dedication to policing and his service to our residents,” said Halifax Regional Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Cathie O’Toole. “The municipality will work closely with the Board of Police Commissioners to support a smooth leadership transition for Halifax Regional Police.”

A full statement by Chief Kinsella follows below:

“Serving as a police officer has been an incredible honour, and leading HRP in the role of Chief has been a highlight of my career. During this time, along with our incredible team at HRP and our partners, we have together faced many tough challenges, all the while striving to respond to calls for accountability and progressive change in policing. Through it all, our members served with patience and fortitude while demonstrating a commitment to learn and modernize as an organization.

“HRP is a leading police service, not only within Atlantic Canada, but across the country, one I will forever be proud of.  I am confident that with the benefit of insights from recent studies and engagements, policing in HRM is well-positioned to further evolve and lead the way.

“I want to express my sincere thanks to the families of every one of my team members for being a source of unconditional strength for them. I am grateful for the many partners for their selfless support over the years, and for community members whose voices are helping shape a new era in policing. My thanks go out to colleagues with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association for their support over the four years. Last but not least, I want to thank my family for their undying support and love throughout these years.

“I have offered my full support during transition and beyond, as the search for a successor begins in the days and weeks ahead.”

During his career, Chief Kinsella has served as a board director and a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the FBI National Academy (FBINA), the Canadian Police College Advisory Board and is Past President of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) New York State/Eastern Canada Chapter Board. He is a life member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and served as a member of the executive of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association (NSCPA).

In 2014, Chief Kinsella was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit (MOM) of the Police Forces, and, in 2022, was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Order of Merit (OOM) of the Police Forces. Chief Kinsella was invested as a member of the Governor General’s Order of Merit of the Police Forces for distinguished policing, community and public service. In recognition of his commitment to policing and the community, he has received the Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.