Insp. Jodi Kays, detachment commander of the Norfolk County OPP, is moving to a new post.
But she won’t be going far.
Kays, who has been Norfolk OPP’s chief since June 2022, will be the new detachment commander of the Haldimand County OPP. She is replacing Insp. Phil Carter, who is retiring.
“I want to thank the community and the police services board for the support they have given me during my time here,” Kays said at a Wednesday meeting of the Norfolk County Police Services Board. “I’m not going far and the two counties – Haldimand and Norfolk – have a history of working together.”
Kays is being replaced by Acting Insp. Jennifer Neamtz, who was introduced to the police board on Wednesday.
Originally from Niagara Falls, Neamtz has held various roles within the OPP across the province. She has worked in central region OPP, which includes the Peterborough area, as well as in remote Northern Indigenous communities.
Neamtz previously worked in Haldimand County and during that time, she said, she became quite familiar with Norfolk.
As an undergraduate online student at Wilfrid Laurier University, Neamtz won the 2020 Ontario Women in Law Enforcement Award for Excellence in Performance. The recognition stemmed from her work in developing a community-based suicide prevention program in a Northern Ontario Indigenous community.
“I’m excited to be here and becoming part of your team,” Neamtz said. “I’m looking forward to working with you and our community partners here in Norfolk.”
Meanwhile, there has also been a change in leadership at the police services board.
Norfolk County Councilor Kim Huffman (Ward 7), who was previously the vice-chair of the police services board, was elected chair at Wednesday’s meeting. She replaces George Santos, who remains on the board.
The vice-chair position will be filled by Norfolk County Coun. Linda Vandendriessche, (Ward 2).
Other members of the police services board include Michael Cruse and Willy VanHeugten
As one of her first duties as board chair Huffman welcomed Neamtz to Norfolk and thanked Kays for her contributions to the county.
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