New Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates was sworn in with a prayer and well wishes from local dignitaries and members of the Brandon Police Department during a quiet 20-minute ceremony at the Armory military in Brandon Wednesday afternoon.

During the presentation of the Oath of Office, Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Confidentiality, all presided over by Justice Shauna Hewitt-Michta, Bates solemnly affirmed “fulfill and fulfill the requirements of the office of constable” in Manitoba . , “as long as I continue to carry out my duties, without fear or favor”.

In his speech to the audience gathered in the armory, Bates expressed his gratitude to his wife, who was by his side through 31 years of police work and 11 relocations with the RCMP, and noted their return to Brandon as a return at the sources.

“My professional journey has taken me to three provinces, but the beauty of Brandon and the surrounding region has left an indelible mark and a longing to come home,” Bates said. “I am inspired and grateful to have come full circle to my homeland.”

Bates grew up in Winnipeg’s north end and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Winnipeg in Justice and Law Enforcement. He then completed a two-year leadership program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

He previously told The Sun that his family and that of his wife still live in Manitoba and that the former constable spent 19 years of his police career in the province.

In welcoming Bates and his wife, Mona, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the new chief would become “the best police force in the country” and noted that the position carries a community responsibility.

“You want to believe the police chief,” Fawcett said. “You want to be that good person that when they come home they say I met the police chief. I want to be like that.

The search for a new police chief, following the retirement of former Chief Wayne Balcaen in 2023, took the Brandon Police Board approximately 18 months to find a suitable candidate.

Police Board President Deb Arpin, who presented Bates with his badge and certificate of office yesterday, said Bates stood out from the other candidates because of his personality.

“You know, he just made us feel comfortable with him,” Arpin told The Sun. “And he answered questions very professionally…He can talk to people and get support.” This is what we need.

When asked what she and the rest of the board members expected from the new leader, Arpin emphasized that Brandon is not alone in the substance abuse and crime challenges he faces .

“The entire country is facing challenges right now,” Arpin said. “And Brandon is no different than any city in the country, none at all. (Bates) brings a little bit of expertise because he’s worked for the RCMP, having been, you know, faced with a lot of even bigger problems than what we’re facing in Brandon.

While Wednesday marked his official swearing in as the new police chief, Bates has already been on the job since October 15.

Both Arpin and Bates emphasized that his main focus for the next few years as the new chief will be to strengthen the Brandon Police Department and help lead the city’s recruiting drive.

“We are short of officers,” Arpin said. “Let’s hire officers. I think we are currently short eight to ten agents. So let’s look at some new ideas on what we can do to encourage people to come to Brandon.

Bates says Brandon is not immune to the challenges facing other police services in Canada and his immediate concern must be increasing recruitment strategies.

“I come from an RCMP organization where you know, when you combine soft and hard vacancies, we’re at about 25 per cent vacancy rate,” Bates said. “I don’t want Brandon to get to the point where one in four positions are vacant. We therefore need to be agile, flexible and creative in our recruitment and training strategies, to ensure we can keep pace with attrition within the organization.

As a “proud Métis citizen” of Manitoba, Bates also expressed an interest in having the Brandon Police Service reflect and represent the community as a whole.

“You know, we have a diverse population in Brandon here, and it’s wonderful. Having so many voices and so many perspectives, so many lived experiences is wonderful. And it’s really important that as we grow and welcome new members to our organization, we have diversity that reflects the population that we serve.

“That’s what I’m interested in…and so we’re recruiting, and I’m eagerly extending that invitation.”

Balcaen, who noted he was sworn in seven years ago to the day at Bates’ inauguration ceremony, said the new leader’s No. 1 task will be to ensure he’s familiar the community.

“It takes a lifetime, and you build it as you go,” Balcaen said shortly before the ceremony. “I’ve been here for, you know, my whole life, and I continue to build relationships and meet people.”

When asked if he had any words of wisdom for the new police chief, Balcaen suggested time would pass quickly.

“Some days will be long, but the journey is short when you look at it as a whole. I know he will do well.

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