For Ron Hansen, coming to Sarnia was an opportunity to get back to what he loves about policing.
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The 29-year Halton Regional Police Service veteran and Sarnia’s newest deputy chief, sworn in Tuesday, said his most recent role in Halton was primarily project and strategic management.
“But I wasn’t really doing things I actually loved,” said the married father of three and grandfather of one.
So, when Sarnia created a new deputy position to head criminal investigations, in part to ease the burden on overworked police brass, Hansen embraced the chance to get back to his passion.
“Being able to come here and actually command an area like that, it’s an exciting opportunity … one I really couldn’t say no to,” he said.
On the job since Aug. 8, Hansen said it’s been great so far and he’s embracing being in a smaller community.
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“It’s more personal,” he said, given it’s a fraction of Halton’s population. “I can know everyone here.”
Meanwhile, the differences between Halton and Sarnia in terms of crime are apparent, he said.
“For a bigger community, you would think you would have more visible crime, but we really don’t,” he said about Halton. “When I came to Sarnia, I’m seeing a lot more mental health issues, addictions, homelessness.”
Priorities for his three-year term include “enhancing our criminal investigations, increasing our clearance rates, and addressing the increasing crime severity index (to) build a future safer for Sarnia,” he said, noting the importance of community collaboration and “a culture of cooperation and mutual respect.”
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He’s the third from Halton Regional Police Service to move here to help lead the 129-officer force, since Derek Davis took over as police chief in 2022.
Several Halton police members made the trip Tuesday to witness Hansen’s swearing in, alongside his friends, family, members of Sarnia’s police and fire services, Aamjiwnaang First Nation officials and others.
“Ron and I do go way back,” Davis said during a ceremony at city hall.
“And I will say, officially at the mic, that I think we’re tapped out of the Halton thing, just so everybody knows,” he said to laughter.
Deputy Julie Craddock, leaving in September, Davis said, to become deputy chief with Anishinabek Police Serviceis also from Halton’s service.
Sarnia’s board has yet to talk about searching for her replacement, board chair Paul Wiersma said. Insp. Mike Van Sickle is acting deputy chief in the interim.
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Davis Hansen praised as “exceptionally tenacious,” with an “extensive background in criminal investigations,” and the investigator he’d want on the job if anything ever happened to his family.
“He’s the only person I know that was driving an impaired driver back to the station and then pulled over a stolen car on his way,” Davis said, also praising Hansen’s work ethic.
The board was looking for someone who could hit the ground running, given a relatively green service in Sarnia, Wiersma said, noting the second deputy position is considered short-term as Sarnia deals with various legislative and operational challenges.
“Boy, we were pleased when we met Ron,” he said, noting Hansen was one of four who applied and two who were interviewed.
“I won’t disclose the whole interview, but I will tell you I think we were very, very impressed with the level of leadership and operational experience,” he said.
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