Former Waterloo police chief offered job of top cop in Ottawa by police board chair: sources
Posted Feb 16, 2022 11:38:00 PM.
One day after accepting the resignation of former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly, CityNews has learned police board chair Coun. Diane Deans offered a sole-source contract for the job of interim chief of the Ottawa Police to a former chief of police of Waterloo, Ont. all without informing Mayor Jim Watson or the rest of city council.
Multiple sources tell CityNews Ottawa that Torigian has accepted the offer. It is unclear yet what this means for the future command of the Ottawa Police.
On Tuesday, February 15, former chief Sloly resigned his position in a move that Deans called a “mutual agreement”.
It is not clear yet whether Deans made the offer to Matt Torigian before or after Sloly's resignation.
BREAKING: @CityNewsOttawa has learned that Diane Deans offered a contract for the interim police chief job at @OttawaPolice to former Waterloo police chief Matt Torigian. Unclear yet if he accepted the position and if the city will have to pay out a contract #ottnews
— David Smith (@david_jsmith) February 16, 2022
This comes as city council deliberates a motion introduced by Rideau-Goulbourn Coun. Scott Moffatt that would see Coun. Deans and Gloucester-South Nepean Coun. Carol Anne Meehan removed from their roles on the Ottawa Police Services Board.
The motion would see Coun. Eli El-Chantiry replace Deans, and Coun. Jan Harder would take over Coun. Meehan's place on the board, while Coun. Rawlson King would remain on the police services board.
Torigian was the police chief in Waterloo from 2007 until 2014 and has also served as Ontario Deputy Minister of Community Safety and Corrections.
More to come.
