Danny Smyth almost didn't join Winnipeg police because he was too short

Wininipeg's incoming police chief says he almost didn't become a police officer because he was too short for the job.

Deputy Chief Danny Smyth, a second-generation police officer who has been with the service since 1986, is the Winnipeg Police Board's recommended candidate to succeed Devon Clunis as chief.

• Smyth to be promoted to Winnipeg's new chief of police
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But Smyth said following his father into the profession wasn't originally his plan when he was going to university in the 1980s.

"At that time in the mid-'80s, there was a height and a weight restriction, and if you've never met me before, I'm a relatively short guy — I'm five-foot-seven — so that wasn't even in the cards at that time," he said in an interview Tuesday.

"But they changed the standards back in the mid-'80s and it became more of an obstacle, physical obstacle test that you had to pass.… It really sort of opened the door for an opportunity, and I thought about it for a while and decided to give it a try, and I haven't looked back."

Smyth, who was born and raised in Winnipeg's North Kildonan area and continues to live in the north part of the city with his family, lists golf and cycling as his favourite off-time activities and the global affairs program Fareed Zakaria GPS as his favourite television show.

What about his musical tastes?

"I'm pretty eclectic here. The Strumbellas, I really enjoyed seeing them at the stadium on the weekend."

'Just taking in the moment'

Smyth was chosen as the top pick for top cop following an extensive national search that began when Clunis announced his retirement in March.

The board will make its formal recommendation on Nov. 4. Smyth is scheduled to be sworn in on Nov. 8.

"This is a very long process," said Smyth, adding that he's feeling "some relief, actually, because it's been going on for quite a while, but just taking in the moment, for sure."

During his career, Smyth has served the police force in uniform and undercover operations, the latter as a member of both the vice unit and the surveillance unit. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1983 and a master's degree in organizational management in 2006.

Winnipeggers may recognize him as the public face of the Winnipeg Police Service in some high-profile investigations, including a series of mail bombings in July 2015.

• Winnipeg lawyer Maria Mitousis, 38, injured by bomb in law office
• Raymond Cormier, 53, charged with murder in Tina Fontaine death

Smyth was promoted to inspector in 2005 and superintendent in 2012. Last year, he was named deputy chief of investigative services — a position that placed him front and centre in December, when an arrest was announced in the death of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine.

"It was a bittersweet moment. I mean, certainly your heart breaks for the family whenever you have to deal with a homicide. And yet on the flip side of that, it's always satisfying as a cop to bring a case to closure," he said.

"So as much as I was the face of that, the homicide unit and many of our people in victims services were the vital role in that and, you know, worked with Tina's family throughout, and that was a long, long investigation, but I was happy that it came to an end."

Smyth also taught at the University of Winnipeg until 2014, lecturing in the criminal justice department.

"It did a couple of things. One, it sure kept me on top of my game — if you're going to teach about policing and justice, you have to stay on top of it," he said.

"The other thing was just to see some of the students come through now. I saw a few of my former students here, now members … and I've seen them in other areas of justice, like corrections and at the [legislature] and even at the remand centre, so it's been satisfying to see some of the students come through and find jobs in the justice area."