The Guelph Police Service has appointed a leading member of Guelph's Black community to help it select its next round of senior officers.
The service announced that Marva Wisdom, a well-known leader in the local Black community, will be the first-ever civilian to sit on a panel to consider the candidates in the next round of hiring.
Among her numerous achievements, Wisdom is a founding past president of Guelph Black Heritage Society, as well as a senior fellow for the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She has been recognized with a YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award, Toronto Police Exemplary Service Award and is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The four-person hiring panel will include Wisdom, Guelph Police Chief Gord Cobey, deputy chief Daryl Goetz and inspector Scott Green.
“For the first time that I am aware of, as part of our senior officer promotion process, a member of our community will sit on that panel,” said Cobey at the recent meeting of the Guelph Police Services Board.
“We are excited and honoured that Marva has chosen to represent our community and be a part of the process as we seek to identify who our future leaders will be within the Guelph Police Service.”