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Local resident Leah Gilfoy named town’s new deputy police chief

January 26, 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Pickford

There is a new second-in-command at the Orangeville Police Service (OPS) after the local force announced on Monday (Jan. 22) that it has filled the previously vacant position of deputy chief.

In a statement to the media, OPS Board Chair Ken Krakar welcomed new Deputy Chief Leah Gilfoy into the fold, announcing she would commence employment with OPS on Feb. 26. Her arrival will mark the first time the force has had a deputy chief since current Chief Wayne Kalinski was promoted from the position in January 2015.

No stranger to Dufferin County, Ms. Gilfoy resides near town in Caledon with her spouse Andy May, a long-time Constable with OPS. She arrives in Orangeville following an extensive career with the Toronto Police Service, where she currently serves as a detective sergeant. During her time with the city force, Ms. Gilfoy worked in a number of areas, including uniform operations, drugs, criminal investigations, major crime, risk management and administrative organizational development. It was this experience that helped to establish Ms. Gilfoy as a frontrunner for the role, and Mr. Krakar noted the Board was “proud” of the decision it had made.

“The Board is very proud to be presenting Deputy Chief Gilfoy to the community. She has had an exceptional policing career,” Mr. Krakar told media. “We are confident that the residents of Orangeville will be proud of our selection, as we move forward being community focused and enhancing our community policing philosophy.”

Ms. Gilfoy has been recognized for her leadership influences in managing risk as an investigator with the Professional Standards – Criminal Investigations Unit in Toronto, the daily administration of the executive officer to the staff superintendent of area field command, on top of the crime manager overseeing all divisional criminal investigations in the northwest portion of the city.

A decorated individual, Ms. Gilfoy is a recipient of the F.B.I LEEDA Trilogy Award and Central Field Command Achievement Award for Outstanding Service. She has received the Peace Officer Exemplary Police Service Medal from the office of the Governor General and has two Firearm Achievement Awards.

Addressing media, Chief Kalinski noted his excitement at welcoming such an experienced officer to the local police force.

“I am extremely pleased with the Police Services Board’s selection of Deputy Chief Leah Gilfoy,” Chief Kalinski said. “She brings superior leadership qualities, outstanding ethics and a level of experience that the public have come to expect from their Orangeville Police Service. I look forward in our joint approach of being focused on our community.”

A special ceremony welcoming Ms Gilfoy to the community was to be held today (Jan. 25) at 1 p.m. at the Orangeville Police Service building at 390 C Line.

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