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McNeely sworn in as Kingston's new police chief

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After taking the oath of office from Justice Gary W. Tranmer on Friday at Memorial Hall in City Hall, Antje McNeely became the 17th chief of police for the Kingston Police Force and the first woman to hold the title of Kingston’s top cop.

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She follows Gilles Larochelle, who served five years as Kingston’s chief. He announced his retirement this summer.

About 125 police officers from Kingston Police and other jurisdictions, civilian police staff, members of the public and McNeely’s family attended the afternoon ceremony.

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Speakers at the ceremony included outgoing chief Larochelle, Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen, MPP Ian Arthur, Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson, Andrea Risk, chair of the Police Services Board, and Justice Tranmer.

“I’m humbled to be selected as the next chief of police for the city of Kingston,” McNeely said in her speech. “And I’d like to thank the members of the Police Services Board for granting me this honour.”

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McNeely joined Kingston Police in 1985 as a constable, then worked her way up to sergeant, staff sergeant, inspector, and in 2011 was promoted to deputy chief.

She is a graduate of Queen’s University, achieving a bachelor of science (honours) degree in 1983. McNeely also completed her professional master of public administration in the policy studies program in 2013.

New Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely salutes the Kingston Police honour guard after being sworn in as the new chief in a ceremony at City Hall on Friday. (Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard)
New Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely salutes the Kingston Police honour guard after being sworn in as the new chief in a ceremony at City Hall on Friday. (Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard) Photo by Ian MacAlpine /Ian MacAlpine/Kingston Whig-Standard/Postmedia Network

McNeely has been awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, and in 2015 was appointed as a member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

She thanked her family and friends for giving her the strength to achieve the position of chief of police.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said.

She said that in her more than three decades with Kingston Police, she’s worked under five chiefs.

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“I’m proud of how our organization has evolved and adapted to the changes in policing and in our society over the past 33 years,” she said.

McNeely disclosed the force’s four-year strategic plan, which includes designing new ways to deal with challenging social trends, recruiting, developing and retaining police staff, safeguarding the organization’s reputation and relationships, and building capacity for high performance in a changing world.

“Policing has never been as complex as it is now, and it will continue to grow in complexity in the future. The way forward is about collaboration and innovation. In other words, a culture of accepting diversity of thought,” she said. “Our vocation is also one that is extremely rewarding and we can truly make a difference for those in our community.

“Professional policing continues to excite me and it’s a privilege for me to lead our members, both sworn and civilian.”

Replacing McNeely as deputy chief will be longtime Kingston Police officer Chris Scott.

New Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely takes the oath during her swearing in ceremony at City Hall on Friday. (Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard)
New Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely takes the oath during her swearing in ceremony at City Hall on Friday. (Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard) Photo by Ian MacAlpine /Ian MacAlpine/Kingston Whig-Standard/Postmedia Network

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