Saugeen Shores Police Chief Mike Bellai [left] is sworn-in to office by Justice Kevin Sherwood. (Photo by Jordan Mackinnon)Saugeen Shores Police Chief Mike Bellai [left] is sworn-in to office by Justice Kevin Sherwood. (Photo by Jordan Mackinnon)
Midwestern

Saugeen Shores Police Unveil New Chief

The new boss has taken command of the Saugeen Shores Police Service.

Mike Bellai was sworn-in as the fourth chief in the 27-year history of the service during a ceremony on Friday, taking over the reins from retired chief Dan Rivett.

Bellai says he has spent the last few weeks shadowing Rivett and that has helped ease his transition into the community, and he will now build on that experience.

"Job one is to sit down, have a look at everything, understand the culture of our police service and then get out to the community and start meeting all the partners," says Bellai. "I've met quite a few, Dan was very gracious in introducing me to a lot of people in town, a lot of groups in town, and I just want to enhance those partnerships."

Bellai says he was drawn to the challenge of policing in a rapidly growing community like Saugeen Shores, but admits being in a shoreline community is a nice perk.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but there's a really nice beach just down the way," jokes Bellai. "But it's really a growing community and to be a part of that, to lead our service into the next years in the future, I think is really a challenge and something that really drew me to the area."

Bellai comes to Saugeen Shores after 27 years with the Stratford Police Service, and had been chief since 2016.

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