Evan Bray retiring as Chief of Regina Police Service after 28 years with RPS
Regina's Chief of Police Evan Bray has announced his retirement from policing, but said he plans to pursue other opportunities in the future.
Bray, who went public with the announcement on Twitter said he told the Board of Police Commissioners during a meeting on Tuesday.
“This is not a sad day, I’m excited,” Bray told media at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Regina Police Service (RPS), under Bray’s reign, got the ball rolling on several major projects including construction of a new headquarters and launch of a police plane. Bray believes now is a good time to step back.
“In the world of policing you’re never done, sadly. There’s always work to do,” Bray said.
“But right now just feels like a time where there are opportunities for someone new to step in and take it to the next level.”
Bray was named Regina’s Chief of Police in 2016 and has been a member of the RPS for 28 years.
Since 1995, Bray has been living out his childhood dream.
“I wanted to be a cop since I was five [years old],” he said.
“I grew up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan and that’s all I wanted to be.”
He’s served in various positions including patrol supervisor, detective corporal with serious habitual offenders, crisis negotiation team member, watch commander and inspector for the city’s North District.
Prior to policing, he made a career in broadcasting as a radio announcer and TV weather personality.
“It’s actually a more natural transition than you would think because policing is really about building relationships with community, communicating with community,” Bray said.
Regina mayor Sandra Masters said Bray’s commitment to the community and the relationships he’s built throughout his career made him a valuable leader.
“His ability to connect with community is outstanding. His ability to be present and engage and connect with people is something that I would personally look for in the next candidate,” Masters said.
Bray worked his way up in the ranks with a strong focus on community policing. He’s been president of the Saskatchewan Police Federation and serves on the Canadian Association Chiefs of Police Board. Masters said Bray is viewed as a preeminent expert on firearms in the country.
“We’re going to miss his leadership and his ability to make community connections,” she said.
In Bray’s time as leader, he said RPS has dealt with a number of challenges including the rise of drugs, guns and gang violence in the city. However, he said there have been positive steps forward in areas such as mental health.
“I had two conversations in the hallway this morning with frontline members and mental health came up in both of them and it came up very conversationally and I feel that’s a big success,” Bray said.
“That to me says stigma is reducing. People are more apt and willing to talk about it which means that we can keep people healthy that we can get people healthy and a healthy workforce means that we’re delivering a great service to the community.”
Bray said he will take the opportunity to make a formal thank you closer to June 30, which will be his last working day. He has no immediate plans upon retirement.
“I don’t plan on sitting in a rocking chair and being retired. I’m sure that I’ll find something,” Bray said.
“At this point, it’s really just about closing off this journey and ensuring when I do walk out of here at the end of June that I’m leaving this organization as poised for success as I can.”
The Board of Police Commissioners is responsible for appointing a new chief. They will hire an outside firm to undergo a nationwide search before making their selection.
Bray said there are a couple of strong candidates within RPS that he believes could fill his role.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.