Kennebecasis Regional Police Force seeks new chief, again<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nPalmer described Gallant as “an excellent choice.”<\/p>\n
“I believe he has the knowledge and experience to be a very positive leader for the organization,”\u00a0which includes\u00a038 officers and five civilian employees,\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n
‘Life-long learner’<\/h2>\n
Gallant, who left the RCMP in June 2016,\u00a0has been working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada as regional director of conservation and protection for the Gulf region.<\/p>\n
He previously served 27 years with the national police force, most recently as chief superintendent for the province for five years and the two years prior as superintendent of the\u00a0Codiac\u00a0detachment in the greater\u00a0Moncton\u00a0region.<\/p>\n
The board’s release described Gallant\u00a0as a “life-long learner who has embraced new opportunities throughout his career.”<\/p>\n
He has worked in general duty policing, human resources, major crime and forensic identification.<\/p>\n
Officer probe continues<\/h2>\n
Gallant takes on his new role with the\u00a0Kennebecasis\u00a0Regional Police Force as one of its senior officers remains under criminal\u00a0investigation\u00a0for alleged intimidation, sexual harassment, obstruction and mischief\u00a0involving\u00a0a female civilian employee.<\/p>\n
Insp. Jeff Porter, a 29-year veteran,\u00a0has been suspended with pay since June 2016, when the force barred him from having any contact\u00a0with the alleged victim, whom he supervised.<\/p>\n
None of the allegations against Porter have been proven.<\/p>\n
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Kennebecasis Regional Police Force Chief Steve Palmer is scheduled to retire in March, after 34 years with the force. (Kennebecasis Regional Police Force)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Palmer,\u00a0who has been with the force since 1983, has only been the chief for a year.<\/p>\n
He was promoted from deputy chief when his predecessor\u00a0Stephen McIntyre retired four days after a scathing report said\u00a0he failed to properly investigate when the Porter matter when it was brought to his attention.<\/p>\n
The bard of police commissioners posted the chief’s position\u00a0in June.<\/p>\n
The board wanted to start the process “well in advance” of Palmer’s retirement, seeking both internal and external candidates from across Canada, the chair had said.<\/p>\n
Palmer will continue in an advisory and support role until his retirement, while Gallant\u00a0familiarizes himself with force.<\/p>\n
Will pursue partnerships<\/h2>\n
“Mr. Gallant’s philosophy as a police leader is based upon working with community stakeholders and employees in the pursuit of organizational excellence that maximizes officer and community safety,” according to the board’s release.<\/p>\n
“This will be done by engaging the community and working with partners to advance evidence\u2010based strategies and fostering a sense of collective stewardship of the resources available,” it said.<\/p>\n
\u200bGallant\u00a0was honoured with the RCMP’s\u00a0exemplary service medal.<\/p>\n
He was awarded a\u00a0the\u00a0Member of the Order of Merit of Police Officers by the Governor General of Canada in 2015, received a Queen Elizabeth II\u00a0Diamond Jubilee medal\u00a0in 2012 and a police leadership award for excellence in organizational innovation from the provincial government in 2011.<\/p>\n
He has a masters and bachelor degree\u00a0in education and\u00a0a bachelor of arts in history.<\/p>\n
Gallant has spent the majority of his career in New Brunswick but has also worked in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n