Bates sworn in as BPS chief

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This article was published 31/10/2024 (359 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s newest police chief, Tyler Bates, was sworn in with a prayer and wishes of good luck from local dignitaries and members of the Brandon Police Service during a quiet, 20-minute ceremony at the Brandon Armoury on Wednesday afternoon.

In the presentation of the Oath of Office, the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Confidentiality, all of which was presided over by Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta, Bates solemnly affirmed to “perform and fulfil the requirements of the office of constable” in Manitoba, “so long as I shall continue to hold office, without fear or favour.”

In his speech to the audience gathered in the armoury, Bates expressed gratitude to his wife, who has been by his side for 31 years of police work and 11 relocations with the RCMP, and emphasized their return to Brandon as a homecoming.

“My career journey took me to three provinces, but the beauty of Brandon and the surrounding region left an indelible mark and a longing to return home,” Bates said. “I’m inspired and grateful to have come full circle back to my homeland.”

Bates grew up in the North End of Winnipeg and earned his bachelor of arts degree at the University of Winnipeg in justice and law enforcement. He then completed a two-year leadership program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

He has previously told the Sun that his family and his wife’s family still live in Manitoba, and the former Mountie spent 19 years of his policing career in the province.

In welcoming Bates and his wife, Mona, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the new chief was coming into “the best police force in the country,” and noted that there is a community responsibility that comes with that position.

“You want to believe in the chief of police,” Fawcett said. “You want to be that good person that when they come home, they say I met the chief of police. I want to be like that.”

The search for the new police chief, following the retirement of former chief Wayne Balcaen in 2023, had taken the Brandon Police Board about 18 months to find a suitable candidate.

Police Board chair Deb Arpin, who presented Bates with his badge and certificate of office yesterday, said Bates distinguished himself from other candidates with his personable nature.

“You know, he just made us feel comfortable with him,” Arpin told the Sun. “And he answered questions very professionally … He can talk to people and get support. That’s what we need.”

When asked what she and the rest of the board members expect of the new chief, Arpin noted that Brandon is not alone in the challenges of addiction and crime that it faces.

“The whole country is facing challenges right now,” Arpin said. “And Brandon is no different than any city in the country, none whatsoever. (Bates) brings a little expertise as having been with the RCMP, having been, you know, dealing with a lot of even higher stuff than what we deal with in Brandon.”

While Wednesday marked his official swearing-in as the new police chief, Bates has already been on the job since Oct. 15.

Both Arpin and Bates noted that his main focus for the next while as the new chief will be to build up the Brandon Police Service and help steer the city’s recruitment drive.

“We’re short of officers,” Arpin said. “Let’s get some officers hired. I think we’re eight to 10 officers short right now. So let’s see some new ideas to the table on what we can do to get people to come to Brandon.”

Bates says Brandon is not immune from the challenges facing other police agencies in Canada, and his immediate concerns must be to augment recruiting strategies.

“I came from an organization in the RCMP where you know, when you combine the soft and hard vacancies, we were sitting at about a 25 per cent vacancy rate,” Bates said. “I don’t want Brandon to get to that point where one in every four positions is vacant. So we need to be nimble, we need to be flexible and we need to be creative in our recruiting strategies, in our training strategies, to make sure that we can keep pace with attrition in the organization.”

As a self-described “proud Métis citizen” of Manitoba, Bates also expressed an interest to ensuring that the Brandon Police Service is reflective and representative of the community at large.

“You know, we have a diverse population in Brandon here, and that’s wonderful. To have that many voices and that many perspectives, that much lived experience is wonderful. And it’s really important that as we grow, and that as we bring in new members of our organization, that we have a diversity that reflects the populace that we serve.

“That’s my interest … and so we’re hiring, and I eagerly put that invite out.”

Balcaen, who noted that he was sworn in seven years ago to the day that Bates’ swearing-in ceremony was held, said job No. 1 for the new chief will be to make sure that he is acquainted with the community.

“That takes a lifetime, and you build it as you go,” Balcaen said shortly before the ceremony. “I’ve been here for, you know, my whole life, and I’m still building relationships and meeting people.”

When asked if he had any words of wisdom for the incoming police chief, Balcaen suggested that time will go by fast.

“Some days will be long, but it’s a short journey when you look at the totality of it. I know he’ll do well.”

» mgoerzen@brandonsun.com

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