Chief Don MacLean
Chief Don MacLean began his policing career in 1993. He was appointed Chief of Halifax Regional Police in September of 2023 and sworn-in on October 9, 2024.
Prior to serving as Chief of Police, he held the position of Deputy Chief of Operations and Superintendent of the Patrol Division. Chief MacLean served as the first Equity & Diversity Officer for Halifax Regional Police from 2004 to 2006 and went on to become the Executive Officer to the Chief and later the Human Resources Officer.
A lifelong resident of Halifax, Chief MacLean is a long-serving member of the Board of Directors for St. John Ambulance Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island Council, is an active member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police as well as on the Board of Directors for Phoenix Youth. He currently serves as the Co-chair of the Wortley Report Research Committee, which consists of community partners doing important work to address bias and systemic racism in policing. He’s also a member of the Board of Governors for the University of King’s College and has previously received an appointment as an Honorary Aide-De-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Chief MacLean was invested into the Order of St. John in 2017, and recently became the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
He attended the University of King’s College and has continued his education through Saint Mary’s University Executive and Professional Development, Dalhousie College of Continuing Education, Canadian Police College and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Deputy Chief Andrew Matthews
Deputy Chief Andrew Matthews joined Halifax Regional Police in 1999 and currently oversees the Operations function, which includes Patrol and Criminal Investigation Division.
Deputy Chief Matthews previously served as the Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Division and held various operational positions in the patrol and the criminal investigation divisions where he supervised sexualized violence investigations and went on to become a Watch Commander. He was a member of the Public Safety Unit for 10 years and has coordinated the Critical Incident Command program for Halifax Regional Police.
He has been a member of several committees and associations, most notably the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada. He has a Certificate in Police Service Delivery from Dalhousie University and has also completed many courses through the Canadian Police College.
Deputy Chief Dean Simmonds
Deputy Chief Dean Simmonds began his law enforcement career in 1997 and currently oversees the Support function, which includes administration and support divisions.
Before joining Halifax Regional Police, he was a community constable with the RCMP. He joined HRP in 2001 and was named Cadet of the Year in his first year of service with HRP. In 2007, he was honoured as Police Officer of the Year. Prior to his role as Deputy Chief he was the Superintendent of the Patrol Division and worked in many operational and investigative units including guns and gangs, special enforcement and community response and crime prevention. He also served as the Equity & Diversity Officer between 2008 and 2012.
Deputy Chief Simmonds has continued to expand his professional development through programs from Dalhousie University, Henson College and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. He continues to play a leadership role in developing and implementing various workshops and training programs with a focus on promoting diversity, workplace equity, human rights, and leadership.
He has served as a member of the HRP Strategic Planning Team, HRP/RCMP Integrated Cultural Diversity Committee and Race Relation Advisory Committee in the past. He is also a board member of Basketball Nova Scotia. He continues to remain a dedicated community member both personally and professionally and is active in the community, providing mentorship programs and community-led initiatives focusing on diversity and leadership.
Superintendent Carolyn Nichols
Superintendent Carolyn Nichols began her law enforcement career in 1999 and currently serves as the Superintendent of the Patrol Division.
She previously served as the East and West Divisional Commander for four years. She also worked as an officer and supervisor in the Patrol Division where she was the sergeant-in-charge of Traffic Support and served as Watch Commander. She was also seconded to Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia where she was a Criminal Intelligence Analyst. She was then transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division where she worked as a Crime Analyst. She became the first woman to join the Integrated Underwater Recovery Team.
Superintendent Nichols completed numerous professional courses with the Canadian Police College and Dalhousie University, where she completed the Certificate in Police Leadership. She has also been involved in the mentoring and leadership training of women as an active member of the Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement (AWLE) and served as the AWLE president from 2014-2019.
Superintendent David Boon
Superintendent David Boon joined Halifax Regional Police in 1995 and currently serves as the Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Division.
Prior to joining HRP, he served four years with the Kentville Police Service. Throughout his career, he has been assigned to various positions in the patrol and criminal investigation divisions, including Emergency Response Team (ERT), General Investigation Section, Sexual Assault Investigation Team (SAIT) and Homicide.
He was awarded Investigator of the Year in both 2006 and 2010. He was selected as NCO in charge of the Aviation Security Unity and took over armed response to pre-board alarms at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. He was assigned to Watch Commander and is also a Critical Incident Commander.
Superintendent Greg Robertson
Superintendent Greg Robertson started his career with Halifax Regional Police in 1998 and currently serves as the officer-in-charge of Support. In this role he oversees various support functions including records & courts, emergency planning, and community relations & crime prevention.
Prior to joining HRP, he worked with Nova Scotia Department of Justice Correctional Services division for six years. Superintendent Robertson is experienced in many aspects of policing including roles in the criminal investigation division, professional standards office and has served as a Watch Commander. Superintendent Robertson regularly collaborates with partner agencies in his role as lead Incident Commander for Ground Search and Rescue and has represented HRP at several ICS exercises.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s University, Post-Bachelor Criminal Justice courses from Simon Fraser University, Business Administration courses from Mount Saint Vincent University and Police Leadership courses from Dalhousie University.
Superintendent Stephanie Johnson
Superintendent Stephanie Johnson began her policing career with Halifax Regional Police in 1999 and currently serves as the officer-in-charge of Administration. In this role she oversees various administration functions including training, wellness, and facilities.
Prior to her current role, Superintendent Johnson served as a community officer, school response officer, member of the recruitment and diversity teams, Public Safety Unit and as Watch Commander.
While in the Criminal Investigation Division, she was an investigator and supervisor with the Sexual Assault Investigation Team (SAIT). She was also a member of the Child Youth Advocacy Centre steering committee and an instructor of the Trauma Informed Response to Sexualized Violence course. She has had many career highlights, including becoming the first woman to serve in HRP’s Motorcycle Unit.
Superintendent Johnson currently serves as the co-chair of Occupational Health and Safety and Employee Engagement committees and spearheaded the creation and implementation of the HRP Reintegration Program.
She has a Bachelor of Recreation Administration from Dalhousie University and was the recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for her work as COVID-19 Task Force Leader.
She is also a member of the Board of Directors for HomeBridge Youth Society and the National Advisory Committee – Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN).
Inspector Ron Legere
Inspector Ron Legere started his policing career in 1989 as a cadet with Metropolitan Toronto Police. In 1994 he returned to Nova Scotia as a member of the Dartmouth Police Service, which amalgamated with Halifax Regional Police in 1996. He currently serves as the officer-in-charge of the Professional Standards Division.
Inspector Legere has served in a number of roles in both patrol and criminal investigation division, as a member of the Quick Response Unit, General Investigations Section, Major Crime, Sexual Assault Investigation Team (SAIT) and the Criminal Intelligence/Technical Surveillance Units where he participated and led many operations. In addition to these roles, he was a member and later Commander of the Public Safety Unit. During his career he has also had several multi-year operational secondments, such as the RCMP Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit, the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Internal Investigations Unit and the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT). He has served as a Watch Commander in the past and most recently served as the Staff Sergeant in the Professional Standards Division.
Inspector Legere has completed several courses through the Canadian Police College, along with a Criminology Certificate from St. Mary’s University and a Certificate in Police Leadership from Dalhousie University.
Inspector Chris Marinelli
Inspector Chris Marinelli started with Halifax Regional Police in 2002. He currently serves as the Patrol Divisional Commander for East Division. He is responsible for the day-to-day police operations for the Dartmouth area.
He has served in a number of roles in both patrol and criminal investigation division, including as a member of the Mounted Unit, Public Safety Unit, as a supervisor in Patrol and as Watch Commander
Inspector Marinelli received recognition for his work volunteering in the community for initiatives such as Camp Courage, Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival, and Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Inspector Kim Robinson
Inspector Kim Robinson joined the Halifax Regional Police in January 2001. She currently serves as the Patrol Divisional Commander for West Division. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations for the Bedford to Sambro Loop area.
She previously served in the Patrol Division and Criminal Investigation Division in several units including the General Investigation Section and Major Crime Unit. She has served in leadership roles as Sergeant and Staff Sergeant within the Patrol Division, as Watch Commander, and Critical Incident Commander. Inspector Robinson also served as the Staff Sergeant of Information Management in the Support Division.
Inspector Robinson has been a long-serving community volunteer for many organizations including Special Olympics Nova Scotia. She currently serves as the Provincial Director of the Nova Scotia Law Enforcement Torch Run, a provincial group of law enforcement members involved in fundraising events to support the needs of Special Olympics athletes. She is also committed to protecting the needs of the members of the Indigenous communities within our region, recently serving as the Security Chair for the North American Indigenous Games. Her ongoing commitment to community involvement continues to be her greatest passion.
Inspector Mo Chediac
Inspector Monier (Mo) Chediac joined the Halifax Regional Police in 2001. He currently serves as the Patrol Divisional Commander for Central Division. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations for the Halifax Peninsula area.
Inspector Chediac was previously the West Division Divisional Commander. In this role, he oversaw patrol operations as well as the community response and school response officers. He served as Watch Commander, Motorcade Commander and was a part of the Quick Response Unit and Traffic Services. Inspector Chediac worked in the Public Safety Unit for over 20 years and has held the positions of Staff Sergeant-in-charge and Team Commander.
Inspector Chediac served and led committees, boards and working groups, including, the Road Safety Advisory Committee, Provincial Lead for the Nova Scotia Law Enforcement Torch Run, and sits on the Employee Engagement Committee and Recognition Board for Halifax Regional Police.
Inspector Chediac was awarded the Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for operational contributions during COVID-19 and was awarded the Halifax Regional Municipality CAO’s Excellence Award in 2023.
Inspector Chediac holds certificates and diplomas from Dalhousie University’s Henson College for continued Police Leadership and Education.
Inspector Lindsay Hernden
Inspector Lindsay Hernden started with Halifax Regional Police in 1989. He currently oversees a number of specialized functions within the Support Division, including prisoner care, traffic, K9, and community relations & crime prevention.
Inspector Hernden is experienced in many aspects of policing. He served as a member, and team commander, of the Emergency Response Team, a supervisor in the Training Section and was the Patrol Divisional Commander for Central for three years. He previously worked for Nova Scotia Sherriff Services as the Deputy Chief – Provincial Operations.
Inspector Hernden earned a Bachelor of Physical Education from Dalhousie University and has completed several policing and leadership continuous education courses from Canadian Police College, Dalhousie University's Henson College and Forensic Science Institute.
Inspector Christina Martin
Inspector Christina Martin joined Halifax Regional Police in 1999. She currently oversees a number of specialized functions within the Administration Division, including training, property & evidence, and human resources.
Previous to that, Inspector Martin served in the Support Division and as the West Divisional Commander and Watch Commander in the Patrol Division. Throughout her career, Inspector Martin served in various positions in the patrol and criminal investigation divisions, including being a member of the Drug Unit, Major Crime Unit, Sexual Assault Investigation Team (SAIT) and Crisis Negotiation Team.
In 2019 she was awarded an Exemplary Service Award for 20 years of exemplary service to policing. From 2003 to 2018 she served as a member of the Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement (AWLE). Inspector Martin has a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Saint Vincent University, a certificate in Criminology from Saint Mary’s University, a certificate in Police Leadership – Administration from Dalhousie University, and has completed several policing and leadership continuous education courses.