Jason Bellaire is Windsor, Ont.'s new police chief and wants 'culture change,' more transparency

The Windsor Police Services Board has made Jason Bellaire the new police chief, a role the veteran with the Ontario police force has been serving in an acting capacity for several months.

Bellaire has been with the Windsor Police Service since 1995. In March, he temporarily replaced Pam Mizuno, who was three years into a five-year contract when she announced her retirement as police chief.

He said Tuesday he plans to implement culture changes and create a more transparent service that works closely with the community. 

"I was born and raised in Windsor ... and I've dedicated my career to serving this community, and I want you to know that I will not let you down," Bellaire told reporters at a news conference at police headquarters. 

"As chief, I pledge to embrace a community-focused, collaborative and data-driven strategy for policing. And this will include modernizing our structure, our service delivery and our appearance."

WATCH | Windsor's new police chief lays out his priorities for the service: 

Windsor, Ont.'s incoming police chief wants culture change, more transparency

2 years ago

Duration 0:52

Jason Bellaire was named as Windsor, Ont.'s new police chief, serving the city and Town of Amherstburg. He says his top priorities are changing the culture in his industry, and being a more transparent service.

Bellaire said he isn't a traditionalist and is embracing change in policing. 

"So what I want to do is make sure that we had a stable organization given the last couple of years that we've endured, and now it's more about addressing culture change in our industry and in our organization simply because we need to evolve," he told reporters. 

"You know, it's not a knock against the organization. It's just we do have to move with the times, and with that we're going to be bringing a lot more of our communications. I'm sure you've noticed in the last little while our communications are more frequent. We're trying to be more transparent."

The new chief said his biggest challenge will be addressing the police response to social and health issues in the community, looking to reduce the number of police interactions with people "better served by other subject matter experts."

"We are in a period of unprecedented potential growth and prosperity in the City of Windsor and Essex region — certainly nothing I have seen in my lifetime," said Bellaire, adding the region's diversity is what makes it special.

"We will become a better organization as we continue to emphasize a philosophy and practice that prioritizes equity, diversity and inclusivity at the Windsor Police Service."

WATCH | Bellaire says social and health issues are his biggest challenge: 

Incoming chief says social, health issues are his biggest challenge

2 years ago

Duration 1:16

Windsor, Ont.'s incoming police chief, Jason Bellaire, says his biggest challenge is around policing matters when it comes to health and social issues.

Mayor Drew Dilkens, who also chairs the police services board, announced Bellaire's promotion, commending him for decades of public service and more recently, his role as deputy chief of operations and policing strategies during the Ambassador Bridge blockade.

Windsor's role in the incident has been included in a Public Order Emergency Commission inquiry into federal use of the Emergencies Act.

"During this time, deputy chief of operations Bellaire was faced with unprecedented security challenges. We all lived through these together, and his leadership was nothing short of exceptional," Dilkens said during a news conference Tuesday. 

"When our nation's most critical trade artery was blocked by malcontents and our economy held hostage, Deputy Chief Bellaire oversaw a calculated de-escalation operation which resulted in the removal of illegal occupants and the restoration of order and unimpeded cross-border traffic and trade."

WATCH | Dilkens says board felt 'widespread comfort' in Bellaire hire: 

Board went through 'exhaustive search' for chief hire

2 years ago

Duration 0:40

Windsor, Ont., mayor and chair of the police services board, Drew Dilkens, says Bellaire's experience and work as acting police chief led to 'widespread comfort' in his hiring by the board.

Dilkens also announced Jo Anne Gignac, longtime city councillor for Ward 6, was reappointed to the police services board Monday night. The public appointee to the board will be announced at city council's first meeting in the new year. 

It took about six months for the board to find the right candidate for the top spot, said Dilkens, enlisting consulting firm Odgers Berndtson for the process. Dilkens said applications were received from individuals with the Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and municipal service across Ontario, and as far as B.C., before the board settled on Bellaire. 

The five-member board undertook the entire process, according to a spokesperson. They include Dilkens, former Amherstburg mayor Aldo DiCarlo, former city councillor Rino Bortolin, Robert de Verteuil and Denise Ghanam. The decision was finalized before DiCarlo and Bortolin left their respective seats, deciding not to seek re-election. 

After joining Windsor police in 1995, he worked in parole from 2001 to 2012, serving on various specialty units. In 2018, he became an inspector before his work as deputy chief of operations in 2020 and acting chief in 2022. 

After being named police chief on Tuesday, he thanked his colleagues and officials, and his wife and three daughters for their ongoing support.

Bellaire will lead 676 officers and civilian staff serving Windsor and the town of Amherstburg.