Evan Bray, Regina Police Chief. Photo by Manfred Joehnck.
A nationwide search for a new Regina police chief has ended with a local selected for the top job.
Superintendent Evan Bray used to be a radio disc jockey back in the early 90’s. He joined the police service in 1995 and has never looked back.
Today he was appointed to the job he has been dreaming about since he was about five. He expressed his gratitude during a news conference, which announced his appointment at Regina police headquarters on Wednesday morning.
“Thank you very much for coming today and embarking on what is going to be the start of what is going to be a very exciting journey for our police service,” he said. “I’m honoured, I’m humbled, I’m excited and I’m a touch nervous.”
Bray was the unanimous choice of the Regina Board of Police Commissioners. He thanked them for their confidence in his ability and promised to make Regina safer, focusing on things like the recent rise in gun violence in North Central and continuing to build the partnership between the police service and the Aboriginal community.
“I think that is an important part of the work we have to do and that we have done, our police service over the last few years has made some very positive steps in reaching out and understanding some of the challenges that face different communities within our city.”
Bray has been on the job for 21 years, working in both front line and plain-clothes sections. He has also held various positions, representing the police union and the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers. He was also the public address announcer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 13 years.
Bray takes over from Troy Hagen, who retired last summer after 37 years with the Regina police service.