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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 17, 2006 - 9 Crowell takes command next month Continued from page 1 Crowell will assume command of the service. An official ceremony during which Crowell will be sworn into office is scheduled for June 19. "I am very proud of our police service and our community," said Algar. "Gary has the ability and dedication to meet the growth and changing needs of our community. The Halton Regional Police Service has 740 members and works with many volunteers and community partners, groups and agencies. It takes a strong determined leader to move such a proud organization forward. I am confident the Board has selected the person best suited to do that." In announcing the selection, Services Board Chair Ken Musgrave said: "Gary's 35 years of policing experience, commitment to community policing and leadership will serve this region well. The board is confident that it has selected the best candidate to serve all our communities in the Halton Region." Crowell's appointment will leave a vacancy in the position of Deputy Chief. The board will undertake a selection process for that position, but in the short term an acting Deputy Chief will be appointed. During this transition period, both Algar and Crowell will continue their current duties. Halton Regional Police Association President Dave Atkinson said Tuesday that he respects Crowell's many years in policing and that from an Association perspective, he plans to work closely with him just as the organization has with every previous chief. "I hope we have a healthy and strong working relationship," said Atkinson, adding that the bottom line of this affiliation has and always will be the safety of Halton residents. The Services Board began the search to replace Algar in December 2005. At a special meeting that month, the Board decided that in the best interests of the service and the community, applications from a broad recruitment pool would be sought. As a result, applications were invited from both internal and external candidates. To assist the board in the selection process, the Toronto consulting firm of Ray & Berndtson Lovas Stanley was hired. Crowell had been an operational superintendent with Peel Regional Police when he first donned a Halton Regional Police uniform on Feb. 15, 1999. Weighing heavily in the Halton Regional Police Services Board's decision, explained then-chair Don Robinson at the time, was Crowell's "extensive knowledge" acquired from experience serving with the RCMP to Homicide in Peel. Robinson also praised Crowell's "solid work ethic" and command experience in everything from sexual assault to auto theft. Crowell ­ who attended M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington ­ commenced his policing career in 1970 with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Nova Scotia. Upon joining Peel, Crowell rose from uniform patrol through Criminal Investigation, Tactical and Rescue and up through the ranks to Superintendent. As an Executive Officer he oversaw the Professional Standards Bureau, Planning and Research, Community Services and Media Relations. At the time of his Halton hiring, Crowell's command experience ranged from Fraud to Family Violence Bureaus. Crowell also earned the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery for his part in the 1979 Mississauga train derailment. He is also a recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal and the Canadian Medal of Merit. In addition to an extensive policing educa- tion in Canada, Crowell attended the FBI National Academy where he received operational, supervisory and management training. Crowell has also taken Sheridan College management courses and in 1987 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Active on the Burlington sports scene, Crowell has also volunteered his time to the Sound of Music Festival. Crowell is a member of the Ontario (OACP), Canadian (CACP) and International (IACP) Associations of Chiefs of Police and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) based in Washington D.C. He is a member of the CACP Crime Prevention Committee, OACP Diversity Committee and is past member of the OACP Victims of Violence Committee. Crowell also serves on the Board of Governors of the FBI National Academy Associates, New York State and Eastern Canada Chapter, the Advisory Committee of the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement, the International Association of Women Police Awards Committee and the National Advisory Committee of Family Services of Canada. He currently sits on the Board of Governors of Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital.