Media Releases
OACP/Rotman Leadership Program celebrates 10 years of training for police executives
October 7, 2010
TORONTO, ON – This year marks the 10th anniversary and eleventh offering of the Police Leadership Program (PLP) – an MBA-style program delivered at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. This group of senior police leaders from across the province will graduate on October 9 and join the over 180 alumni who have already been through the program. Their newly acquired management and leadership skills will help these leaders to better meet the challenges in today’s complex policing environment and pave the way for upward mobility.
Faced with the increasing challenges of policing in Canada, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) partnered with the Rotman School of Management in 1990 to create a unique three-week educational program for its members. Today the Police Leadership Program has provided leadership and management training for police leaders in municipal, provincial, and military police services nationwide. At least 30 per cent of graduates have been promoted to the highest ranks within their organizations. PLP alumni promoted to the position of Chief since graduation include: Bill Blair (Toronto Police Service), Ian Davidson (Greater Sudbury Police Service), Murray Faulkner (London Police Service), Glenn De Caire (Hamilton Police Service), Wendy Southall (Niagara Regional Police Service), Gary Smith (Windsor Police Service) and Colonel Tim Grubb (Canadian Forces Provost Marshal).
“Police Leaders today must be strategic thinkers. In serving the interests of the people of Ontario, executives at every police service in the province must be able to plan ahead and react quickly to the changing dynamics of policing today,” said OACP President Chief Robert Herman. “The partnership between OACP and Rotman ensures that police leaders are equipped to meet today’s community safety challenges.”
The current class represents 19 police officers from services from across the province. The program features classroom instruction by Rotman faculty, peer interaction, and presentations by business leaders including Frank Falcone of Microsoft Canada, and police-related speakers such as Ian Davidson, Deputy Minister, Community Safety (Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services) and Chief Bill Blair (Toronto Police Services).
“Today’s police leaders need many of the same skills as business managers,” says Rotman professor Ramy Elitzur, academic director of the program. “During their three weeks in the Police Leadership Program participants acquire valuable management and leadership skills they can take back to better serve the regions they are accountable for—their communities.”
The ceremonial graduation for the current class takes place at the Rotman School on Saturday, October 9 beginning at 1:30 pm. Police chiefs and senior officers, civic representatives, the graduates’ families, and program alumni will attend the ceremony.
POLICE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM GRADUATES
Inspector Graham Beverly, York Regional Police
Inspector Chris Bullen, York Regional Police
Inspector Dave Calvert, Hamilton Police Service
Inspector Adrian Darmon, Waterloo Regional Police Service
Inspector Rose DiMarco, Ontario Provincial Police
Staff Sergeant John Gauthier, Timmins Police Service
Inspector Bryan MacCulloch, Niagara Regional Police Service
Inspector Chris McCord, Peel Regional Police
Staff Sergeant Paul McGarry, Barrie Police Service
Inspector Mark Mitchell, City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service
Inspector Geoff Nelson, Brantford Police Service
Inspector Deb Pincivero, Peel Regional Police
Inspector Bill Sadler, York Regional Police
Inspector Rob Thirkill, Greater Sudbury Police Service
Inspector Rohan Thompson, Ontario Provincial Police
Detective Sergeant Ann Tkachyk, Dryden Police Service
Inspector Graeme Turl, York Regional Police
Inspector Ricky Veerappan, York Regional Police
Inspector Cliff Sexton, Niagara Regional Police Service
The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is redesigning business education for the 21st century with a curriculum based on Integrative Thinking. Located in the world’s most diverse city, the Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables the design of creative business solutions. The School is currently raising $200 million to ensure Canada has the world-class business school it deserves. For more information, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca.
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Ken McGuffin
Manager
Media Relations
Rotman School of Management
(416) 946‑3818
mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca