The Halton Police Board has honoured the former police chief responsible for changing the organization’s name, and its operational philosophy.
Upon being named Halton’s second chief of police in 1979, Jim Harding immediately changed the Halton Regional Police Force to the Halton Regional Police Service.
“We are not a force against the public, rather an agency to serve the public,” said Harding, who would serve as police chief for 15 years.
It was a hallmark of his belief that the police worked in partnership with the public.
Thursday, the Halton Police Board dedicated the community meeting room at police headquarters (where board meetings are held) to Chief Jim Harding.
“His legacy is filled with notable achievements,” said Halton Police Board chair Jeff Knoll. “He laid the groundwork for police and public partnerships, established community rooms within police stations to cultivate teamwork, prioritize education and leadership development, broadened our tactical team and built the inaugural Children’s Safety Village, which has been a staple in our community.”
“Under his leadership, community consultation committees emerged across the region, unifying police and the public to address mutual concerns.”
Following his retirement 1994, Harding stayed involved as an advisor to the board until shortly before his death in 2022.
