SMITHS FALLS – A member of the O.P.P. with over 26 years experience has been named the head of the O.P.P. for the Eastern Ontario region.
Chris Harkins, who now holds the title of chief superintendent, most recently worked as the commander of the fleet, supply and weapons services bureau at the general headquarters in Orillia.
Harkins is filling a vacancy for Regional Commander Dan Redmond, who recently retired.
Harkins is no stranger to the region, having grown up in the the Pembroke-area and serving in the Killaloe and Upper Ottawa Valley detachments.
He will be overseeing roughly 1,200 uniformed and civilian members, who cover 43,000 square kilometers in the East Region, which has 31 detachments.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be appointed to my new position in East Region. I look forward to working with the dedicated members of the OPP as we rise to meet the challenges of policing such a large, diverse area,” Harkins said.