Doug Bernardi, the new provincial appointee to the Bradford West Gwillimbury-Innisfil Police Services Board, was sworn in and took his place at the table Monday night.
Bernardi replaced longtime appointee Sharon Villani, who served on the board for eight years.
He joined chair Rod Hicks, vice chair Licinio Miguelo, and the mayors of the two municipalities which share the South Simcoe Police Service, Rob Keffer of Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil's Lynn Dollin.
“I’m proud to introduce Doug Bernardi,” said Hicks, noting the new appointee grew up in Thunder Bay and worked for the Canadian National Railway, before launching a 30-year career with the Ontario Provincial Police.
Serving in detachments that included Lindsay and Alliston, Bernardi rose to the rank of sergeant, then transferred to communications duty in Aurora.
Now retired, he lives in Bradford.
Hicks announced the board will be presenting a plaque to Villani, thanking her for her years of service – a challenging period that included a divisive OPP police costing, salary negotiations, and the hiring of new police chiefs and deputy chiefs, including current Chief Andrew Fletcher and Deputy Chief Robin McElary-Downer.
“She contributed a lot, and I think she has to be recognized,” said Hicks, who noted that his own term may be coming to a close at the end of May.
“This could very well be my last meeting. I don’t know if I’ll be reappointed,” he said, noting that Villani and the board had no advance notice her term would not be renewed.
Hicks praised the accomplishments of the board.
“We’ve done well. There’ve been a lot of changes. We brought the service into the 21st century,” he said, especially in terms of communications. “When I came on, it was like two tin cans and a string.
“My term of service has been great," Hicks added. "It’s a great team, and I think this board, especially for the past four years, has been a very dynamic board.”
Hicks spoke of the “mutual respect and trust” between board and police service.
Since moving to Bradford, Bernardi has been active in the community. He launched the Friends in Bradford euchre group, and he has assisted the political campaigns of both MPP Caroline Mulroney and MP Scot Davidson.
Among the qualifications for his new role on the police services board, Bernardi highlighted his extensive “experience and knowledge as a police officer. You pretty well know how a police service works.”
At the same time, Bernardi said, “I’ve been retired long enough that my focus is on members of the community.”
The five-member board, now at full strength, met in the Jonkman Room at the South Simcoe Police Service's South Division in Bradford.
