After Toronto police Superindent Ron Taverner declined the appointment to be Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) five days ago, his replacement has been named. Through an Order-In-Council signed by cabinet, the Ontario government announced the appointment of Thomas Carrique as the next Commissioner of the OPP.

Thomas Carrique currently serves as the Deputy Chief for the York Regional Police, where he has spent his entire 29-year career with the force. He has worked in a variety of fields, including Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Investigative Services, Traffic, Marine, Public Order and the Administration and Operations branches.

"We are very excited to announce Deputy Chief Thomas Carrique as the next Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police," said Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Sylvia Jones. "Deputy Chief Carrique will help bring an outside vision to the OPP and work with talented officers and civilian staff to bring forward positive change."

Jones continued, "The Ontario Provincial Police has been without a permanent commissioner since November 2, 2018. The rank-and-file deserve certainty and clarity."

Green Party leader Mike Schreiner said he was pleased with the appointment, but added that Ontarians "need to know that a sound process was followed to arrive at Mr Carrique, free from political interference or conflict of interest. We call on the Ford government to fully disclose the details of the new hiring process and to publicly release the Integrity Commissioner’s report into the original appointment of Supt. Taverner once the investigation is complete."

Deputy Chief Carrique will serve a three-year term. He will assume his post on April 8, 2019.

source: media releases, Government of Ontario, Green Party of Ontario