Police swear in two female officers with North Bay roots

Sometimes North Bay feels like a small town and Friday’s swearing-in ceremony was an indication of that small town feel of North Bay. 

On Friday cadets Haley Field and Aila Udeschini were sworn in today and handed their new badges as the newest members of the North Bay Police Service. 

The two new Constables not only attended St. Joseph-Scollard Hall around the same time, but they both have known each other since they were youngsters.  

“Aila and I actually went to elementary school together so I’ve known her since we were about five years old so it’s definitely an exciting day,” said Field.   

Udeschini felt the same way. 

“We both got lucky (being sworn in together), and to be able to serve our community here,” Aila Udeschini.  

“She’s a year younger than me but it’s nice to have someone I was familiar with going down to the college and obviously getting hired together was nice.”  

Field and Udeschini become the 15th and 16th female sworn-in officers in the service out of the 94 total.  

Shawn Devine, North Bay’s 9th Police Chief, handed over the badges to the new recruits. He believes hiring local has its benefits.  

“When we are hiring from our own community, many have shown what they can do as far as community involvement and volunteerism, they have a local awareness of people and they have roots here. It is a huge investment to send people away to police college so we believe when we hire local the possibility of them staying here for a lengthy career is there,” said the Chief.     

Udeschini hopes this new job will give her a chance to give something back to the community she loves. 

“Growing up in North Bay, I’ve been quite involved in the community with sports, obviously got my education here through University, and I found policing was a way to give back to the community that I grew up in and it’s given me a lot of opportunities so I think policing is a way that I could give back in that way,” said Udeschini. 

Devine says the North Bay Police Service is looking at sending another cadet to police college in September and then may hire another three officers early in 2018.