Charles Bordeleau 'honoured' to be Ottawa police chief

Charles Bordeleau says he's 'honoured' to be promoted from deputy chief to become Ottawa's new police chief.

Bordeleau has been with Ottawa police for more than 27 years. He was named a deputy chief in Aug. 2010 and was previously the superintendent of emergency operations.

He is fluently bilingual and a graduate of the University of Ottawa and Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C., where he took disaster and emergency management.

Bordeleau, who was only interviewed four hours before Friday's announcement, will officially take over as chief Monday. The official change of command ceremony will be held at an unannounced later date.

"Everyone in this city matters, everyone who puts their life on the line matters. I will remember that as chief," he said Friday.

He replaces former police chief Vern White who officially left the force Feb. 20 to become a senator.

White, who was sworn into the Senate earlier this week, had been the city's police chief since May 2007.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, who is also a member of the Ottawa Police Services Board, said he was happy with the candidates after an internal search, which led to Bordeleau being named the new chief.

"The new chief’s 28 years of policing service in our community makes him an ideal choice to help us maintain the safety and security that we all enjoy," he said.