Gary Forward, new Fredericton police chief, takes over Sept. 9

Gary Forward, who has had a long career with various police agencies in the province, isFredericton's new police chief.

After current Chief Martin Gaudet's retirement, Forward will begin his new role on Sept. 9.

"I'm absolutely honoured to be returning to Fredericton," Forward said.

"It's a community that I've grown up in and lived in for several decades, and the opportunity to go back to the police force is something that I'm looking forward to," he said when reached Thursday, saying he would let the city's newsrelease speak for itself for now.

Forward has been working in public safety for 35 years, the city said, starting as a constable with the Fredericton Police Force in 1989 and rising to inspector in 2007. He has also served with the RCMP in New Brunswickand is currently chief of the Woodstock Police Force.

Forward is president of the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police and and sits on the board of directors for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Mayor Kate Rogers, who served on the hiring committee for the new chief, said Forward's vast experience will be an asset.

"So he's very familiar with the force and also having the benefit of having worked in other positions and other organizations, most recently in Woodstock where he was the chief," Rogers said.

"What I was particularly impressed with was his commitment to community policing."

Rogers said the city's priority is that residents feel safe and see police in their community, which has been a challenge because of the difficulty in recruitment.

"In order to deliver community policing, you need the officers who can be there, be out in the community," she said.

Coun. Eric Megarity, who recently took over as chair of the city's public safety committee, said the announcement is great news.

"Gary's a very professional police officer, you can tell by what he's done in his career," Megarity said.

And he echoed Rogers's concerns about recruitment.

"It's a changing profession, I've seen times where we would have an open position and 100 people would apply," he said. "Now, it's changed completely."

Megarity said the issues facing the city's police right now are broad, including addressing property crime and homelessness.

"It's a changing profession, and sometimes they have to take the police hat off and be sometimes a social worker," Megarity said.

But smaller issues are often most visible to residents, he said.

"It's not always the big crime, it's the small property crimes that happen. As councillors, we hear a lot of it, so there's some work there to do."

CBC News tried to reach Sitansisk(St. Mary's) First Nation for comment, which works with the city on policing for the community. Chief Allan Polchieswasunavailable Thursday afternoon.

Deputy police Chief Kim Quartermainis also retiringand Forward will be responsible for replacing her, Rogers said.

Rogers thanked Gaudet for his service and changes he brought tothe force, like introducing body cameras and a new satellite police academy to train new officers.

"I find that Chief Gaudet is a solution finder, and he's brought that innovation in his role throughout his time in the police force," Rogers said.