District of Oak Bay
News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2022

Oak Bay Police Board Announces New Chief Constable

The Oak Bay Police Board is pleased to announce that current Oak Bay Deputy Chief Mark Fisher will be appointed as the new Chief Constable effective September 6, 2022. Oak Bay’s Chief Constable Ray Bernoties announced his retirement, which will become effective September 5th, earlier this year. Mr. Fisher’s appointment followed work by the Board to review the position needs and undertake an interview process. The transition period will allow for a selection and onboarding process of a new Deputy Chief Constable this spring and summer.

“We are thrilled to have Deputy Chief Fisher step into the role of Chief Constable,” stated Oak Bay Police Board Chair, Mayor Kevin Murdoch. “He has demonstrated exceptional leadership during his time in Oak Bay and has brought great insight from his diverse policing and leadership experience across Canada. As you may know, Mr. Fisher was the Chief Constable of Oak Bay from 2011 to 2014 and was responsible for initiating many positive changes within the department. He has continued that positive contribution in his current Deputy Chief role and has a great vision for community policing, so we are very happy to have him as Chief Constable once again.”

“I am looking forward to taking on this new role and continuing to build on the strong community policing model we deliver in Oak Bay. We have a dedicated team of civilian employees, volunteers, and police officers that I am proud to serve alongside. Oak Bay residents have always been very supportive of our department. Oak Bay is a fantastic place to serve as a police officer,” stated Deputy Chief Fisher.

Deputy Mark Fisher was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Oak Bay Police Department on Sept 1st, 2020. Mr. Fisher brings 31 years of policing experience, including service as Officer in Charge of the Westshore RCMP, Officer in Charge of the Nanaimo RCMP, RCMP Liaison Officer to the Province working on justice reform initiatives, and was most recently the Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP.

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For media inquiries, please call:
Kevin Murdoch, Mayor
District of Oak Bay
250-896-4983
mayor@oakbay.ca