New OPP boss named

Premier Dalton McGuinty
News Release

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Chris D. Lewis has been named Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, effective August 1, 2010, replacing outgoing Commissioner Julian Fantino.

Lewis joined the OPP in 1978 and was posted as a provincial constable in Kapuskasing. Over the past 32 years, he has been promoted to successively more demanding and high-profile positions within the Ontario Provincial Police. He has served across the province and in a variety of front-line and specialized positions. Among his accomplishments, Lewis oversaw the creation of the Aboriginal Policing Bureau and has studied Aboriginal Government and Law. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Most recently, Lewis served as Deputy Commissioner of Field Operations, a position he has held since 2007.

As Deputy Commissioner, he was responsible for front-line service delivery to over 300 municipalities across Ontario. His command included overseeing a large portion of the more than 5,900 uniformed officers in 165 OPP detachments province wide.

“I want to congratulate Deputy Commissioner Lewis for a lifetime of outstanding service that has culminated in becoming our newest OPP commissioner. I also want to thank outgoing Commissioner Fantino for all he has done to uphold the law and keep Ontario’s families safe.”

— Dalton McGuinty, premier of Ontario

“Deputy Commissioner Lewis brings to his new role a comprehensive knowledge of community policing and a profound understanding of the diverse fabric of our province. He is an excellent choice to succeed outgoing Commissioner Fantino who was steadfast in his commitment to policing in Ontario.”

— Rick Bartolucci, minister of community safety and correctional services

Quick facts

- The OPP was created in 1909.

- The OPP has approximately 5,900 uniformed officers, 1,800 civilian employees and 850 auxiliary members.

- Deputy Commissioner Lewis becomes Ontario’s 13th OPP commissioner.

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Background:

Christopher D. Lewis has been named Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) following an open and thorough selection process.

As Provincial Commander of OPP Field Operations, Lewis oversaw front-line service delivery to over 300 municipalities and a number of First Nations communities across Ontario through a workforce of over thousands of uniformed and civilian personnel located in five OPP regions and the Aboriginal Policing Bureau.

A career police officer, Lewis brings 32 years of experience in public service. He joined the OPP from his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie and was posted as a provincial constable to Kapuskasing in 1978. He has served in diverse positions and assignments, including roles as the Director of Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario; Commander of the Emergency Management Bureau, the Eastern Region, Information Technologies Bureau and Investigation Bureau. He was also seconded to the RCMP from 1993 to 1994.

Among his many accomplishments, he oversaw the creation of the Aboriginal Policing Bureau and was responsible for all OPP planning, preparation and response to the Aboriginal National Day of Action for three successive years.

Further to numerous management, investigative and tactical training courses, Lewis has studied Aboriginal Government and Law at Athabasca University and Applied Management at Northwood University. He also completed the FBI National Academy Program as well as the Harvard Associates in Police Science Homicide course. In addition, he has regularly lectured on leadership, investigative and operational disciplines to police associations, colleges and other postsecondary learning institutions across Canada. He has also written a number of articles for law-enforcement publications.

Lewis is also the OACP Committee Chair for the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. He is the Executive Lead for the OPP's United Way Campaign and served as a Campaign Cabinet member for United Way of Greater Simcoe County.

In 2004, Lewis received the Order of Merit for the Police Forces in an investiture service presided over by then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. He was then promoted within the Order in 2010.

As OPP Commissioner, effective August 1, 2010, Lewis will accept responsibility for one of North America's largest deployed police services -- comprised of approximately 5,900 uniformed officers, 1,800 civilian employees and 850 auxiliary members who provide services to over 922,752 square kilometres of land and 110,398 square kilometres of waterways. Lewis will oversee front-line delivery, administrative support services and specialized and multi-jurisdictional investigations throughout the Province of Ontario.

Lewis is married to OPP Superintendent Angie Howe. They have two adult daughters.

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