The Hamilton Police Service has appointed Robin Abbott, a seasoned officer with 27 years of experience in the force, as its new deputy chief, a key leadership role. Abbott, who has dedicated her entire career to the Hamilton Police Service, will assume the position on September 27, as announced by the police services board in a recent press release.
Taking over from the retired deputy chief Paul Hamilton, who now heads the Niagara Parks police, Abbott has a strong background having served as a superintendent of Division 1. Throughout her career, she has held various operational, administrative, and executive leadership roles.
In her new role as deputy chief overseeing support functions, Abbott will be responsible for managing crisis response, traffic safety, emergency services, and facilities. Expressing her enthusiasm for the opportunity, Abbott shared in a press conference that she is eager to contribute to leading the organization into the future.
Reflecting on her journey since joining the Hamilton police in 1999, Abbott mentioned that becoming deputy chief was not an initial career aspiration. She highlighted her focus on performing her duties diligently, a philosophy Chief Frank Bergen refers to as “be where your feet are,” which has led her to take on further leadership responsibilities.
Abbott emphasized the challenges facing Hamilton, including homelessness, mental health issues, the opioid crisis, and rising youth violence. She stressed the importance of enhancing efficiencies for front-line officers to focus on situations where police intervention is necessary, rather than being the default service provider.
Acknowledging the need for community partnerships, Abbott emphasized the role of organizations in addressing youth crime through intervention and prevention strategies. She highlighted the significance of collaboration with community groups like St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton to provide support and deter youth from criminal involvement.
In her role as the command champion of the Women’s Internal Support Network within the service, Abbott has been instrumental in providing training and mentorship opportunities for women aspiring to leadership positions. The service aims to increase the representation of women to 30% within its ranks, a target that Abbott is committed to advancing.
Abbott outlined her focus on the successful implementation of the service’s strategic plan and meeting community-defined goals in her first year as deputy chief. Her dedication to driving initiatives that promote diversity and support women in policing underscores her commitment to advancing inclusive practices within the Hamilton Police Service.