An Open Letter to the people of Ontario from OPP Commissioner Chris D. Lewis

TORONTO, Aug. 12 /CNW/ -

I am truly honoured to have been selected to serve as the Commissioner of the OPP.

During my 32 years with the OPP, I have had the great fortune to serve in all four OPP Command areas in every rank in the north, south, east and west. I have learned that how we deliver policing services continues to change rapidly as we adapt to the law enforcement environment of today. What hasn't changed is the need for the unique relationships we have forged - and continue to forge and enhance - in order to serve Ontarians to the best of our abilities.

The OPP will continue to place a priority on working with community leaders, community groups and service clubs, government agencies, social service agencies, law enforcement agencies at all levels and the private sector in an integrated manner in order to maximize our effectiveness and our efficiency.

The OPP's internationally-recognized Provincial Traffic Safety Program and focussing on the primary causal factors for collisions - aggressive driving, drinking and driving, and seatbelts - will continue to be a priority. I am a firm believer in continuous improvement and look forward to implementing further strategies to enhance community policing, crime abatement, and crime prevention.

Our approach to the ever-expanding and borderless world of organized crime will continue to be intelligence-led. We will use this same intelligence-led approach to target crime at the street level within our local communities.

Under my direction, the OPP will continue to build upon its hard-earned reputation of delivering professional policing services to the Ontario's diverse communities. I am extremely proud of the women and men of the OPP - both uniform and civilian and the core values that they exemplify day in and day out. We will all be mindful of the trust that you have placed in us, which we cannot afford to - and will not - take for granted.

Thank you for your support and trust in me as OPP Commissioner. Together we will continue to provide the very best policing service possible to the people of Ontario.

Yours truly,

Chris D. Lewis

Biography and photograph of Commissioner Lewis available at www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=22

For further information: Inspector Dave Ross, 705-329-6874