A new chapter is being written for the 184-year-old Belleville Police Service, one of the oldest police services in the country.
The old saying “what goes around comes around” was the perfect way to describe the life and career of the City of Belleville’s new Chief of Police Mike Callaghan.
That’s how chair of the Belleville Police Services Board Jack Miller described the situation as the city’s new Police Chief was sworn in today (Friday) at the Banquet Centre.
”We had a plan of succession in mind when we (the board) brought Mike here four years ago. Not all plans work of course but this one has perfectly. Without Mike’s leadership creating and building our new headquarters we wouldn’t have one. One we can all be proud of. Without a doubt Mike Callaghan is the person to lead the Belleville Police Service.”
Chief Callaghan with his wife Terry. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
New Belleville Police Chief Mike Callaghan with his sons Josh and Shamus who serve with the Ottawa Police Service. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Chief Callaghan, who replaces recently retired Chief of Police Ron Gignac, was born on Chatham Street in Belleville, he was a top student in the Law and Security course at Loyalist College, and after a varied and successful 30-year career with the Ottawa Police Service, returned to Belleville as an Inspector and then Deputy Chief in 2016.
While with the Ottawa Police Service, Callaghan worked in patrol, accident reconstruction, forensic identification, marine, traffic, major event planning, emergency planning, criminal investigation, youth, guns and gangs, and firearms, among other positions.
Chief Callaghan is sworn in by Mr. Justice Stephen Hunter (center). Chair of the Police Services Board Jack Miller is at the right. (Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Mayor Mitch Panciuk said these are different and challenging times, especially in policing when officers’ every moves are under scrutiny.
“You (Callaghan) are the ideal person to take the helm of the Belleville Police Service today. You provide solid leadership with a quiet confidence that assures the community and your service that you care about people and you care about excellence. Belleville City Council will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the women and men you lead. We will continue to provide what you require to do your jobs and keep our community safe.”
Panciuk went on to say how proud everyone is of the new police headquarters stressing that without Chief Callaghan’s involvement the project might never have been completed adding Callaghan was the right person at the right time.
The new Chief was sworn in by a well-known judge who’s sworn in around 80% of new officers and staff to the Belleville Police Service over the past 29 years, Mr. Justice Stephen Hunter.
“I’ve had the pleasure of swearing in many fine people to this team (Belleville Police Service) over the years. It’s a crucial team as it’s all about the health and safety of our community. Mike, you are going to make a great Chief. You make good decisions and you lead by example. I’m so pleased to be here with you today.”
President of the Belleville Senior Officers’ Association Inspector Chris Barry said he and other senior officers had learned a great deal from the new Chief in the past four years and were looking very much forward to working him in the future.
The president of the Belleville Police Association Detective Constable Adam Donaldson said Callaghan’s passion for the community and the service would stand everyone in good stead. “I believe our service has made more advances in the past few years than I’ve seen since I began my career.”
Also speaking at the ceremony was MP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington Derek Sloan and MPP for Bay of Quinte riding and the Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services Todd Smith.
Chief Mike Callaghan took to the podium to a standing ovation, not the first he would receive. “When I started in policing, I used to hope and aspire to wearing a Sergeant’s stripes. And now I stand before you as your Chief. Born and educated in Belleville and here I am again. What goes around comes around. The Callaghans are a real policing family going way back. We could be said to be like the family in the TV series “Blue Bloods”. I firmly believe that the public are the police and the police are the public. We must put people and relationships first. It is paramount that we work together and ensure that our community is consulted on their concerns and expectations for their police service. We must collaborate to reach our goals. I firmly believe that you cannot even spell Belleville without the word “belief” and that’s something we need to do, believe in our community. I have high standards and so do they (community) but I know that sometimes we will make mistakes. I will make mistakes and that my team will, however we will learn from them and never stop trying to attain perfection. Our goal has been and continues to be to make the City of Belleville the safest community in Ontario.”
As a “blue blood” policing family it was only fitting that Chief Callaghan’s sons Josh and Shamus, both officers with the Ottawa Police Service, were on hand as well as his wife Terry.
