Veteran Toronto Police officer named as Durham Region's next top cop
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Toronto Police Staff-Supt. Peter Moreira has been chosen as the next Durham Regional Police Chief effective March 24.
Moreira has served in Toronto over the last three decades, including as the Unit Commander of the Homicide Squad, Integrated Gun & Gang Task Force, and 51 Division.
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He began his career as a Police Cadet in 1991 and trained at the Ontario Police College in 1993 but more recently got his Bachelor of Arts – Policing Honours at Wilfrid Laurier University and will receive his diploma in June 2023.
“I am honoured to have been chosen by the Board to serve as the next Chief of the Durham Regional Police Service,” Chief Designate Moreira said in a statement released Thursday.
“I have lived in this region for my entire life and it is a dream come true to be able to offer my experiences and skills as its Chief of Police,” he said. “I appreciate the importance of the role I am privileged to assume, and I embrace the challenge with humility and eagerness.”
Moreira also takes pride in being a member of the local Portuguese community and has volunteered and coached soccer in the region for over 15 years.
The Durham Regional Police Services Board says an Environics Research report helped identify the characteristics of the next Chief: courageous, transformative leadership; emotional intelligence; commitment to positive community engagement; and deep and varied policing experience.
Chair of the Board, Shaun Collier, said Moreira was the first candidate they interviewed and he eventually proved to be the right person for the job.
“I was very impressed with his leadership ability,” Collier told The Sun. “He’s been tasked in Toronto to take on challenging assignments and he’s consistently delivered results.”
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Collier identified such priorities for the incoming Chief as the health and well-being of the force, the growing homeless population and the rise in firearms-related offences, the latter which he said hit a record-high last year.
“I wanted somebody who was a change agent,” said Collier. “I didn’t want somebody that had been chief for 40 years somewhere. Peter has not been a chief before. He’s going to come in and change things a little bit, hopefully find out and address any issues we have, and really take us through the next level and move us forward as a force.”
“I have a lot of faith that he’s going to get us to where we want to be,” he said.
Outgoing Durham Regional Police Chief Todd Rollauer served in the role for the last two-and-a-half years with “outstanding capability and integrity,” according to the board, who thanked him for his 35 years of service.
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