Kingston Police Services Board appoints Scott Fraser as acting Chief of Police
Having served with Kingston Police as Deputy Chief for just over a year, Scott Fraser has now been appointed as the interim Chief of Police.
The Kingston Police Services Board announced the appointment on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, noting that Fraser will replace Chief Antje McNeely “on an interim basis.”
McNeely announced her upcoming retirement in November 2022 and will be commencing “pre-retirement leave shortly,” Kingston Police said in a press release.
“In order to facilitate a smooth transition for succession planning for the next Chief of the Kingston Police and to provide the opportunity for Deputy Chief Scott Fraser to step in as Acting Chief, I will be stepping away from my role as Chief of Police as of January 1, 2023,” Chief McNeely said in a statement.
“I will be utilizing my accumulated banked time earned as my pre-retirement leave.”
This appointment will not be Fraser’s first experience at the head of a police service; in 1991, Fraser began his career in policing in Vancouver before joining the Brockville Police in 1998, where he moved up the ranks to become Chief of Police. Fraser joined the Kingston Police Force in October 2021.
According to Kingston Police, in his 23 years with Brockville Police and prior to becoming Chief of Police there, Fraser served as:
- Breathalyzer technician
- Mountain bike officer
- Intelligence/drug officer
- Sergeant in charge of Criminal Investigations
- Inspector in charge of Operations and Support Services
The 52-year-old from Carleton Place holds a diploma in Police Foundations from Sir Sandford Fleming College, as well as a certificate in Police Administration from Dalhousie University, and a certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia.
“In June 2006, Fraser attended the 226th session of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia, the only Canadian among 250 attendees for the 10-week course,” Kingston Police shared.
“He has lectured at the Canadian Police College and served as syndicate leader within the Canadian Police College Drug Investigative Techniques Program numerous times.”
Further, the new interim Chief of Police has been awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal – a medal issued under the Canadian Honours System to recognize loyal and exemplary service to law enforcement – as well as the Colin T. Millar Award for “sustained commitment to leadership innovation and community service in Canada” and the Chief Edward F. Moore Award for Integrity, Ethics, and Professionalism in Law Enforcement from the New York/Eastern Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates.
Fraser will start 2023 in the new position here in Kingston, an integral move to ensure smooth and successful operations for Kingston Police moving forward, explained Kingston Police Services Board Chair Jarrod Stearns.
“It is important that there is continuity of command of the Kingston Police as the Board launches a new Strategic Plan in 2023 and undertakes its search for a permanent Chief,” said Stearns.
“Given his past approximate year and a half as our Deputy Chief, as well as his previous command experience, Acting Chief Fraser is well prepared to assume this role, and the Board is looking forward to working directly with him.”