Sarnia’s new deputy police chief is ready to get to work

There were several uniforms in the family photos taken following Monday’s swearing in of Sarnia’s new deputy police chief.

Julie Craddock, a former Halton Regional police inspector, is married to a Mountie and two of her four children are officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, and her father, Frank Craddock, is a retired staff sergeant who spent 30 years with the Toronto police.

After Monday’s swearing-in by Justice Mark Poland at Sarnia city hall, police Chief Derek Davis invited Frank Craddock to the podium to hand his daughter her new Sarnia police badge.

“I’m very proud of Julie,” the elder Craddock said after the ceremony. “She’s a very dedicated police officer.”

Craddock is Sarnia’s first female deputy chief and, as a member of the Beausoleil First Nation, the first Indigenous officer in the post.

She said after the ceremony it was a proud moment, “also a little emotional.”

Craddock started out with the OPP in 1994 and transferred to the Halton service in 1995, where she worked in criminal investigations, traffic, recruiting, community mobilization and front-line operations, rising from constable to inspector.

The Sarnia Police Services Board announced Craddock’s appointment in December, following a three-month hiring process.

Craddock, who’s first official day on the job was Monday, said she was excited to get to work.

She had been in Sarnia during recent weeks getting to know the organization, the service’s leadership team and community representatives.

“I’ve sat in on numerous community committees already, so I can get up to speed on . . . some of the social issues. . . Sarnia is facing,” Craddock said.

“When I saw the job posting, it really just fit the skill set I have,” she said. “I’ve been very active with community safety and well-being, with equity, diversity and inclusion, and creating positive workplace cultures.”

She worked with Davis when both were senior officers with the Halton service, she said, and they share a vision “that a healthy workplace culture is cultivated by the leadership of an organization.”

“Julie and I worked together for many years and actually have a very symbiotic working relationship,” Davis said. “I’ve very happy with the board’s decision.”

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