With a transfer of the sword, reading of an oath and badge presentation, Sara Cunningham is officially Greater Sudbury Police Service’s first female chief of police.
The ceremony took place at the Caruso Club on Tuesday afternoon, and saw outgoing Chief Paul Pedersen hand a ceremonial sword to Chief-designate Cunningham, allowing her to strike “designate” from her title.
Cunningham has served as chief of police since September, after having served Greater Sudbury Police Service for 26 years. Pedersen vacated the role in June to take the executive director position with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.
“Our recruitment efforts were far-reaching, but we found all that we were looking for, and more, right here at home,” board chair Al Sizer told Tuesday’s crowd, adding that their interview with Cunningham quickly displayed her understanding of Greater Sudbury and a vision for the future which Sizer said “we want and deserve.”
“I’m so thrilled to see Sara rise up and take over the reins,” Pedersen said. “Very early on, Sara Cunningham stood out early with her work in a training unit. Her positivity, her enthusiasm shone through along with her work ethic and skill set.”
During her brief remarks, Cunningham told Tuesday’s crowd that challenges will be overcome by uniting,and that the police service “will continue to tackle the challenges with resiliency and hard work.”
To community partners, she pledged to “create stronger connections, fostering trust and addressing the unique challenges of our community.”
To women, she said it’s not lost on her that she’s the first-ever local chief of police, and that she hopes it sends the message that “hard work and dedication will get you to the top.”
Sudbury.com last spoke with Cunningham in September, during her first official day as chief-designate, when she pledged to tackle officers’ mental health as a top priority.
A key inspiration is her father, Jim Cunningham, a past deputy chief who retired in 2007 after a 38-year career in policing, who she said took pride in his care for police officers.
“It’s about that authentic leadership, really caring for the people that are out in the community and doing really challenging work,” she said, adding that her goal is “to make sure we are member-centred and taking care of the well-being and wellness of our internal members.”
As reiterated during Tuesday’s speech, she also pledged to improve partnerships throughout the community.
During her remarks, Cunningham expressed gratitude for the confidence the police board placed in her, and commended what she described as a “forward-thinking progressive leadership team.”
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
