New London Police Services Board member sworn in as other steps down

A new London Police Services Board member was sworn in on Monday. CTV London’s Gerry Dewan has more.

Turnover at the London Police Services Board (LPSB) on Monday. A new member was sworn in, while another stepped away.

That means a seat at the seven-member table remains empty.

New member Mike Wallace was sworn in to open the Monday morning meeting.

“I will, to the best of my ability, discharge my duties as a member of the London Police Service Board.”

Wallace is a familiar face at London City Hall, principally in his role advocating for developers as executive director of the London Development Institute.

He has also been part of the committee advancing London’s Whole of Community response to health and homelessness.

He sees a synergy between his work life and the roles he’s taken on in the community.

“Building a better London is more than just housing. It’s the quality of life that the people who move to our community will experience,” said Wallace.

“A major function of that is how safe they are, and the police play a vital role in making that happen.”

Wallace was formerly a Conservative MP in Burlington and served on City Council in that community as well.

The seven-member LPS Board is made up of three people appointed by the province, the mayor, two council members and a council-appointed representative.

Wallace was appointed by the province, but as he was joining the board it was announced that paediatric dentist Dr. Hayley Faulkner, also a provincial appointee, was stepping away.

During the meeting the board heard from members of the London police human resources team, with the presenters putting an emphasis on diversity efforts. That stood in contrast to an all-white board.

Mayor Josh Morgan said ensuring diversity on a small board, with appointments through different avenues, can be challenging.

“The force is becoming more reflective of the City of London. And I think with organizations of this size, you can struggle to try to make the board as diverse as possible,” said Morgan.

“You’ll never be diverse as a large city like London. You can certainly make the organizations reflective of the city.”

Morgan and board chair Ryan Gauss, who is the council appointee, point to diversity in the leadership team, including Chief Thai Truong and Deputy Chief Treena MacSween. MacSween is the country’s highest ranking black female member of a police service.

Gauss said the board also puts a premium on listening to diverse voices.

“The board will stop at nothing to make sure that those opinions are heard,” said Gauss.

“That there are opportunities, whether it be a strategic plan, whether it be through continuous community consultation, whether it be with consulting with different, diverse groups in our community. There’s always channels to make sure that communication happens.”

Former Chair Susan Toth resigned in January 2023, and at that time she lamented the lack of diversity on the seven-member board.

Wallace said the province will again have to consider the merits of the candidates when filling the vacancy created by Faulkner’s departure, but feels diverse voices have value.

“I think any public organization should do its best to represent what the what the community looks like. And, so, I’d be welcoming of any diversity,” said Wallace.