Smiths Falls Police Service announces new deputy chief

The Smiths Falls Police Services’ Board has announced that they have hired a new deputy chief after a province-wide search.

Effective Sept. 3, Chris Kettyle will be sworn in as Smiths Falls’ newest deputy chief of police.

“Kettyle recently retired from the OPP after an exemplary career as a Detective Staff Sergeant and Deputy Director in charge of Organized Crime in the region,” explains a media release.” Starting in 1994, he has worked his way from general patrol including implementing bike patrol in Quinte and Lanark County, became a member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Drug Enforcement Unit out of Ottawa/East Region, Sergeant in charge of ROPE and CIB.”

Prior to this impressive career, however, Kettyle grew up in Smiths Falls and settled with his family in Perth for many years.

“We are very pleased to have him here and look forward to working with him,” stated the town’s mayor and chair of the police services board, Shawn Pankow.

Chief Jodi Empey noted Kettyle’s extensive amount of operational, leadership and mentorship within the communities he has served and with those he has worked with and supervised.

“He is very well respected within the ranks of the OPP and from his supervisors,” she said. “Chris also comes with knowledge of Smiths Falls and has worked with a lot of us here collaboratively in his time with ROPE and with drug projects over the years. He is well liked and knows the importance of having our own municipal service and the benefits that comes with it. I am very happy that I will have a partner with a similar proactive vision of wanting to improve the service not just from within, but for the betterment of our community. He will be a perfect fit for our service and community.” 

Kettyle said he is “extremely honoured and humbled” to commence the new role.

“The men and women of this service are very dedicated and truly reflect the notion of community first in all that they do. It is my intention to build upon the excellent leadership that has and continues to be demonstrated within the service and I truly look forward to meeting and interacting with the residents, and community partners of this great town.

Kettyle extended his “sincere appreciation to the Smiths Falls Police Services Board for putting their trust and faith in me to assume this leadership role.”

The Smiths Falls Police Service had been without a deputy chief since January 2024, when Chief Mark MacGillivray retired and Jodi Empey became A/Chief, taking on both roles.

Deputy Chief Kettyle will be sworn in Sept. 9.