LONDON POLICE SERVICES BOARD 2024

The London Police Services Board’s Re-Elected Chair and Vice Chair
Support Plan for A Safer City Now 

LONDON, ON (January 18, 2024) – The Ontario Police Services Act which governs policing, requires that chair and vice chair elections occur for the calendar year, at police services board’s first meeting of the year. 

Today at their public meeting, the London Police Services Board (LPSB) re-elected member Ali Chahbar to the role of chair and Member Megan Walker to the role of vice chair for 2024.  Both Chair Chahbar and Vice Chair Walker served in these roles during 2023. Their first priority for 2024 is ensuring London City Council supports the Board’s plan for A Safer City Now through the proposed 2024-2027 London Police Service budget. 

Chair Ali Chahbar was appointed by the province to the LPSB for a three-year term, December 12, 2021 to January 12, 2025.   Ali served as vice chair of the Board January 20, 2022 until he became chair in 2023.  Ali is General Legal Counsel and Executive Officer with the Thames Valley District School Board. Chair Chahbar participates on a number of not-for-profit boards and in an array of community initiatives in the London region. He is a regular contributor and frequent guest in local media on a range of political, legal and community issues and was recently recognized as one of London’s Top 20 Under 40 which acknowledges professionals in the region who have excelled and distinguished themselves in their respective field and community.  Ali also enjoys a busy family life.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve again as the chair of the London Police Services Board. We’ve heard from Londoners loud and clear that they do not feel safe in our city. When one person or family in our community is affected by crime, all of us feel it,” said Chair Chahbar. “We are ready to do things differently as a police service. I look forward to working with Council to support and pass our plan for A Safer City Now this year and ensure our police service have the resources they need to get the job done.”

Vice Chair Megan Walker is also a provincial appointee, and her three-year Board term is January 1, 2021 to February 2, 2025.  Megan has been involved in the London community since early 1990 through various public service and advocacy roles, including two terms on London City Council, leading the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) and participation on many not-for-profit boards and community initiatives in London. Megan is internationally recognized for her advocacy of legislative reform, victims’ rights, sex trafficking, sexual violence, and sexual harassment and has a keen interest in the criminal justice system.  Megan also keeps busy with her family, including several grandchildren. 

“I thank the Board for re-electing me to serve. I want Londoners to know we’ve listened to you over the past year and we’ve heard you,” said Vice Chair Walker.  “It’s why the Board is making a historic investment in London’s public safety. Our proposed budget will ensure residents and businesses see vast improvements in our police service by immediately hiring more officers, making roads safer, and keeping neighbourhoods safe.”   

Chair Chahbar and Vice Chair Walker will continue to work with the Board and London Police Service to advance key priorities, including the recruitment of more officers and civilian staff, investing in traffic enforcement to stop stunt driving and impaired driving, and protecting homes and businesses from property theft.    

The proposed 2024-2027 budget was informed by the largest community consultation held in London’s history, including countless town halls, public meetings, consultations, submissions, and surveys. LPSB remains committed to ensuring the budget proposal and implementation is fully transparent and accountable to the community.  

To learn more about the 2024-2027 multi-year budget and receive the latest updates, please visit the Budget webpage, link here: https://www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/2024-2027-budget-a-safer-city-now.aspx

London Police Services Board: 

Mr. Ali A. Chahbar, Chair

Ms. Megan Walker, Vice Chair

Ms. Nancy Branscombe, Member

Mr. Ryan Gauss, Member

Mayor Josh Morgan, Member

Councillor Steve Lehman, Member          

Councillor Susan Stevenson, Member

For additional information, contact Jennifer Foster, Administrator, London Police Services Board at lpsb@londonpolice.ca