Ottawa Police Services Board names next CAO
Veteran provincial public servant Dunker set to take on new role in early December
The Ottawa Police Services Board has picked a veteran provincial public servant as its new chief administrative officer.
Blair Dunker is currently chief administrative officer and assistant deputy minister of corporate services for the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, Cabinet Office and the Premier's Office, the board said in a release Friday.
Dunker takes on the job Dec. 6.
“We are confident that the knowledge, skills and experience she brings with her from her 28year career with the Ontario Public Service will be an immense asset to the service, its members and the OPS Command Team,” Coun. Diane Deans, the chair of the police services board, said in a release Friday.
“I am excited to join a team whose work has such a direct dayto-day impact on people in the community,” Dunker said in the release. “I am looking forward to supporting the service in achieving its vision of being a trusted partner in community safety and delivering effective policing services to the citizens of Ottawa.”
Dunker's career has included positions at Ontario ministries for community and social services, children and youth services, community safety and correctional services and the Ministry of the Attorney General. She is “known for building diverse, inclusive, and collaborative cultures,” the board said, including leading an anti-racism action plan.
Earlier this year, the Ottawa Police Services Board voted to remove chief administrative officer Jeff Letourneau from his $242,000-a-year job as the top civilian at the police service. It was not known if Letourneau resigned or was fired, this newspaper reported.
The Ottawa Police Association called on the board to make public the reasons behind the abrupt departure, but the board said that, “due to the confidential nature of personnel matters,” it would not be elaborating on the departure.
The knowledge, skills and experience she brings with her from her 28-year career with the Ontario Public Service will be an immense asset to the service.