Councillors receive private update, but stay mum on police chief's abrupt resignation
Calgary city council received a behind-closed-doors update Tuesday on the recent resignation of police Chief Mark Neufeld, but stayed mum afterward on the reasons for his abrupt, mid-contract departure.
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The private discussion came four days after the Calgary police commission announced the sudden resignation of Neufeld, who was appointed to lead the Calgary Police Service in 2019. Neufeld's contract with CPS had been extended in 2023 by three years, with the intention of keeping him at the helm of the city's police force until 2027.
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Neufeld's sudden departure has raised eyebrows, particularly considering he had two years left on his contract and the fact that CPS will be heavily involved with security operations for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis Country next month.
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No reason was given for his resignation in the commission's announcement last week. Neufeld, quoted in that announcement, stated it was 'an honour and pleasure' to serve Calgarians for the past six years.
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Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong, one of two councillors who sit on the police commission, said that Neufeld, like anyone, is entitled to make his own career choices.
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'We'll leave that up to the chief to decide in the future what his career directions are,' Wong told reporters. 'As a commission, we were not there to second-guess his choices.'
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He added the commission hasn't met since receiving notice of Neufeld's departure and noted the police oversight body's next meeting is scheduled for May 28.
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Neufeld will be replaced by Katie McLellan as Calgary's interim police chief. Council ratified her appointment unanimously after their in-camera discussion Tuesday.
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Due to a number of significant police-related events this spring, the commission said the search for Neufeld's permanent replacement will not begin immediately.
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The search for a new permanent chief will likely take a few months, according to Wong.
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'From the citizens' perspective, I know people are asking, what next?' he said. 'We've got G7 and (the Rotary International Convention) coming, Stampede coming. We've been very assured that our executive police service are definitely prepared for all those events and Calgarians shouldn't feel any less secure about it.'
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