Uday Jaswal named Ottawa's new deputy police chief

Uday Jaswalis heading back to work with the Ottawa policeafter being givena promotion.

The former Ottawa police superintendenthas been named deputy chief of the Ottawa police, replacingJill Skinner, who retired in June.

Jaswalwill be sworn inon Sept. 24.

Coun. EliEl-Chantiry, chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board, saidJaswalbeat out four other competitors, who were shortlistedfor the job as part of a country-wide search.

"[Jaswal] met all the criteria," saidEl-Chantiry. "He's a young, innovative thinker.He's educated, bilingual."

Experience in Durham an asset

El-Chantirysaidthe board was also impressed with the knowledge and experienceJaswalgained as deputy chief of the Durham Regional Police Service, located east of Toronto.

He held that position for two years.

During that time, Jaswallooked intohow Durham Police investigated a black teenager's alleged beating by a Toronto officerin Whitby, Ont.Ittook Durham Police four months to notify the SIU.

• Ottawa launches national search to replace deputy police chief

This is only the second time OPShas hired someone into its executive ranks, withoutpromotingfrom within. The other example isformer police chief Vern White.

Ottawa's other deputy police chief, Steve Bell, was hiredthrough an internal process in 2016.

Hiring comes at pivotal moment

Uday Jaswal, who hails from Ottawa, has 23 years of policing experience.

During his time in Ottawa, Jaswaloversaw the guns and gangs unit, as well as the human trafficking unit. He was responsible for drafting a plan to give every frontline Ottawa police officer access to a taser.

As a former OPSSuperintendent Jaswalalso presided over disciplinary hearings forofficers who violated the Police Services Act, and served as the chair of the Ottawa Youth Services Board.

Jaswal'shiring comes at a pivotal moment for the city in police race relations. Four police officers have filed human rights complaints against the force for racialdiscrimination.

In 2019, the case ofConst.Daniel Montsion, the officeraccused of manslaughter in the death ofAbdirahmanAbdi, will go to trial.

• 'Justice for Abdirahman Abdi' calls for Ottawa Police race audit
• Ottawa Police officer alleges race discrimination

El-Chantiry saidthe board is committed to diversifying its workforceand Jaswalhas a "full understanding of diversity."

"What Udaybringstothe table is theknowledgeof how to reach out.He's done it before," saidEl-Chantiry.

"The future of our city, of ourservice, [is]to be diverse,to be understanding, to have more women, to have more visibleminorities, andto have more new Canadians. We want to be representative of the community."