News Release
New Chief, Superintendent Announced
(Wednesday, July 9/2003)-- Halifax Regional Council today announced the appointment of two senior officers to lead the municipality's policing service.
On a recommendation from the Halifax Regional Police Commission, Council approved the appointment of Acting Chief Frank Beazley as the new Chief of the Halifax Regional Police. He succeeds the late Chief David McKinnon, who died earlier this year following a lengthy illness.
Council also approved the appointment of Superintendent Vern Fraser as Office-in-Charge of the Halifax Detachment of the RCMP. He succeeds Superintendent Stan Ferguson, who retired earlier this year.
Mayor Peter Kelly, on behalf of Halifax Regional Council, said " Both individuals have worked themselves up through the ranks in their respective organizations, and bring with them broad experience in both police work and administration. We are confident that they will provide the kind of progressive leadership needed to maintain the highest standards of public safety in our community."
George McLellan, HRM's Chief Administrative Officer, said "Chief Beazley and Superintendent Fraser have worked very closely together during the past two years implementing many of the recommendations contained in the Halifax Regional Municipality Policing Study. The Policing Study, combined with the leadership and dedication of these two individuals, provides us with the blueprint and the commitment to bring about new efficiencies and new methods of providing an enhanced calibre of policing services to the residents of HRM."
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
George McLellan
Chief Administrative Officer
(902) 490-4026
Frank A. Beazley
Chief of Police
Halifax Regional Police
Frank A. Beazley is appointed to the position of Chief of Police for Halifax Regional Police, after serving a 9-month term as Acting Chief during the lengthy illness of the late Chief David McKinnon.
During his tenure as Acting Chief, Halifax Regional Police realized several significant accomplishments, including the successful negotiation of a 12-year Collective Agreement with the Municipal Association of Police Personnel; undertaking the Policing Study with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Halifax Detachment) to achieve a more efficient and effective police service for the citizens of the Halifax Regional Municipality; and preparing to host the 98th Annual Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Halifax this August.
Chief Beazley joined the Halifax Police Department in 1970 and has worked in many divisions and sections during his policing career. As a Staff Sergeant and Inspector, Chief Beazley was the Officer-In-Charge of the Human Resources and Training Division of HPD for six years. He also held the positions of Superintendent and Deputy Chief of Operational Support with Halifax Regional Police.
Chief Beazley is a recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal and Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. As an active member of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), he serves on the Organized Crime Committee and the Prevention of Crime and Industry Committee of the CACP. He also serves on the Executive Committees of Criminal Intelligence Nova Scotia and Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, and the Regional and National Committees on Organized Crime. He is a member of the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia and the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax.
Chief Beazley is a graduate of the Queen's University Executive Program and has taken courses at the Canadian Police College, Dalhousie University and Saint Mary's University, concentrating in Law and Human Resources.
He resides in Halifax and is married with two children and three grandchildren.
Superintendent Vern Fraser
Officer-In-Charge, Halifax Detachment
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent Vern Fraser was appointed Officer-In-Charge of the Halifax Detachment of the RCMP, succeeding the recently retired Superintendent Stan Ferguson.
For the past two years, Supt. Fraser was responsible for the management of operations for Halifax Detachment, which included the overall supervision of 164 police personnel. Halifax Detachment has primary offices in Tantallon, Lower Sackville, Cole Harbour, Musquodoboit, Sheet Harbour and the Halifax International Airport, as well as seven Community Offices.
For the past two years, Supt. Fraser was also tasked with coordinating the initial phase of the Halifax Regional Municipality Policing Study. In his new capacity, he will be implementing the Policing Review recommendations in conjunction with the Halifax Regional Police through an integrated policing service delivery model.
Supt. Fraser has been a member of the RCMP for the past 28 years, having joined in Halifax in January, 1975. Born in Springhill, N.S., he received his formal education in Oxford and New Glasgow. His entire police service has been in Nova Scotia, with postings to Sydney, New Minas, Halifax and Oxford. His related duties included Detachment Policing, Drug Enforcement, Community Policing, Major Crime Investigations, Commercial Crime Investigations and Detachment Commander.
In 1994, Supt. Fraser completed a six-month secondment with the United Nations Civilian Policing contingent in the former Yugoslavia. He received his appointment to the Commissioned Officer rank within the RCMP in 2000, when he assumed the role of Diversity Policing Officer for Nova Scotia.
Superintendent Fraser has been the recipient of two Commanding Officers Commendations, the RCMP Long Service Medal, The United Nations Peace Keeping Medal, the Canadian Peace Keeping Medal and the Queen's Jubilee Medal. In 2000, he graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, as well as a Certificate in Management. In 2002, he received a certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Management from Dalhousie University.
Superintendent Fraser has three adult children and he and his wife, Angela, reside in Fall River.
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