Leadership Team

Chief of Police

Chief Eric Stubbs joined the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) in November 2022.

He began his policing career in 1993 with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and worked in six different communities in British Columbia, including serving as Chief of Police on the Haida Gwaii, Terrace, and Prince George.

In 2014 Chief Stubbs moved to RCMP headquarters in Ottawa to serve as the Director General of National Criminal Operations. In 2017, he returned to B.C. to oversee Core Criminal Operations, where he was responsible for leadership and operations of 125 frontline policing detachments and a number of specialized branches throughout the province. 

In his role as Chief of Police in Ottawa, he wants to ensure the team at the Ottawa Police Service is supported and healthy so they can continue to address all the policing issues in the City.

Earning the trust of all the diverse communities within the National Capital Region is a priority for the Chief, and he realizes that collaboration with these groups and all stakeholders is essential in keeping the Capital of Canada a safe community.

Deputy Chief Paul Burnett, Community Policing Command

Deputy Chief Paul Burnett oversees the Community Policing Directorate, which includes the Frontline Policing Directorate, Specialized Policing Directorate, and the Neighbourhood Policing Directorate. This Command provides proactive and reactive public safety services in partnership with key stakeholders and the many diverse communities in Ottawa.

Deputy Chief Burnett began his policing career with the Gloucester Police in 1992 and, over the course of his 31 years of service in the Ottawa area, has fulfilled a variety of roles and worked in a variety of units throughout the organization including the Traffic Section, the Collision Reconstruction Unit, the Professional Development Centre as a Use of Force Instructor, and the Tactical Team as both an operator and the Unit Commander. In addition, he has worked as an investigator in the Professional Standard Unit and supervised the Community Policing Centre’s in the city’s east end. 

Deputy Chief Burnett was a member of the 2008 Olympic Security Team that provided personal security as the Olympic flame made its way across the province. He also attended the Vancouver Olympics and was deployed as a Bomb Technician. He spent a year Instructing at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) in Amman, Jordan where he was the lead instructor in charge of the Improvised Explosive Device Training Centre responsible for training and was awarded the JIPTC medal.

DC Burnett is a Member of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces, the Order of Merit of the Police Forces is a fellowship of honor based on the highest qualities of citizenship, service to Canada, to the police community and to humanity at large.

In his previous role as a Duty Inspector, Deputy Chief Burnett oversaw Frontline Operations and was responsible for providing Incident Command for major events and high-risk operations, including demonstrations, major crime scenes, SIU investigations, tactical and search and rescue operations. He led the design, development and implementation of the organizations first multi-year Strategic Equity Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. He fostered collaborative leadership across the organization and developed a strategy to build capacity in relation to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Deputy Chief Burnett earned his Bachelor of Social Science degree from Ottawa University and is currently an Instructor at the Canadian Police College on the Critical Incident Commanders course.

Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson, Investigations, Information and Serious & Organized Crime Command

Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson has been a proud member of the Ottawa Police for 28 years. Drawn to policing at a young age, it was a career that aligned with the values with which she was raised and allowed her to commit to a life of service. While earning her degree from the University of Ottawa (Criminology), Trish volunteered with OPS working in the community. It was there she learned and understood the importance of fostering and building relationships with the communities she would eventually serve. In 1995, Trish joined the ranks of OPS and gained broad experience working in various capacities in Patrol, Sexual Assault/Child Abuse, School Resources, Elder Abuse, Investigations, Outreach and Recruiting and Community Policing. During these years, Trish witnessed the courage and strength of survivors and the commitment of the people called to support them through their journey. This led to advocacy work for victims and survivors as well as co-managing the Critical Incident Stress Management Team for OPS members for over 10 years.  In addition to this work, Trish has been a strong advocate for the advancement of women in policing, leading and participating in national events and local initiatives to improve culture, address workplace inequities, and provide networking and educational opportunities for women in law enforcement.

In 2018, Trish was promoted to the senior ranks as an Inspector and worked on the Frontline as a Duty Inspector managing critical incidents and major city events. She also led the reorganization of the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the OPS’ response to the Pandemic. When she was promoted to Superintendent in 2020 she was given responsibility for Frontline Policing, leading the Service’s largest group of members. From 2021 to 2023, Trish served as Acting Deputy Chief, first for the Community Policing Command then for the Investigations, Information and Serious & Organized Crime Command where she held that position before being permanently named Deputy Chief of that Command in April 2023.

Trish and her husband, also an OPS member, have two children. She continues to be an active member of her community, regularly engaging in volunteer initiatives and is currently on the Board of the Snowsuit Fund.

Deputy Chief Steve Bell, Chief Administrative Officer

Deputy Chief Steve Bell has lived in Ottawa for the past 33 years. He is a 27-year veteran of the Ottawa Police Service, where he is currently the Deputy Chief – Chief Administrative Officer since January 2023.

During his time with the Ottawa Police Service, he has gained experience in various positions, including Chief Administrative Officer; Interim Chief of Police; Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigations, Support Services and Planning, Performance & Analytics Directorates; Neighbourhood Officer, Drug Unit, Guns and Gangs Unit, Youth Section, Professional Standards, Courts and Temporary Custody and Resourcing and Development Directorate.

Deputy Chief Bell’s background gives him a solid understanding of both the community’s diverse needs as well as the needs of Police Service members. He is a demonstrated, innovative and strategic thinker who is successful at managing complex organizational change. He has played a key role in several significant projects, including Gun Violence Suppression, Neighbourhood Policing, Gender Audit, Service Initiative, and Wellness Strategy.

Deputy Chief Bell is also actively involved in the community: he currently sits as Co-Chair of the Community Equity Council and serves as Chair of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Board.  

Deputy Chief Bell has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Political Science from Carleton University. He is married and has two sons.