TOP COP DECLARES WAR ON CRACK

Diverse Force a Top Priority

Cracking down on crack cocaine and aggressively recruiting cops who
better reflect the community they serve are top priorities for
Hamilton's new police chief.

Deputy Chief Brian Mullan, a 30-year Hamilton police veteran
repeatedly described as a "people person," will be promoted to
Hamilton police's top job next month. He will take over with high
expectations from his predecessor Chief Ken Robertson, 56, who retires
from his five and a half years as chief.

"It's purely a dream come true. It's somewhat surreal," says Mullan,
humbly.

Mullan's aspirations have been 30 years in the making. He remembers a
senior cop pulling him into an office on his first day on the job to
ask him what he wanted to do on the force.

"I want to be chief," the 19-year-old cadet answered
boldly.

And what if he couldn't be chief, the inspector asked? "Then I want to
be deputy chief," he replied.

The 49-year-old married father of two will have fulfilled both goals
with his newest appointment, announced at a packed press conference at
downtown police headquarters yesterday afternoon.

Mullan says his biggest challenge as chief will be to fight crime
trends, particularly the war against crack cocaine. He plans to beef
up intelligence-based policing to deal with the issue "head on."

"(Crack) is deteriorating and undermining the basic fabric of
society," says Mullan, adding it's behind much of the increases in
local robberies and auto thefts.

And, he says, he'll take "fairly substantial steps" in human resources
to attract candidates to the force who better reflect the community's
diversity. For example, the hiring process will be reviewed to weed
out any systemic bias that may exist that may make it harder for
minorities to get hired.

"It's essential for us not only to reflect our community but to
respond to our community," says Mullan.

Police Services Board member Tom Jackson, who is also a city
councillor, says Mullan's passion for diversity was part of what gave
him an edge over the other six internal candidates.

"He's very strong on diversity ... to be even more inclusive for our
visible minorities ... and to bring more women in the service," says
Jackson. "He's very progressive and proactive that way."

Hamilton has the third-highest proportion of foreign-born residents in
the country, trailing only Vancouver and Toronto.

Chief Robertson hailed Mullan's promotion as "the most important
decision our service would undergo this decade," adding that Mullan
embodies all the characteristics of a good leader.

"He will be an absolutely outstanding chief of police."

He praised his intelligence, training and education. But most
importantly, says Robertson, Mullan cares deeply about the officers
and the community.

"Brian and I are cut from the same cloth," Robertson said in an
interview. "We sincerely believe that our job is to listen to our
community and to listen to our organization."

Robertson was complimented by police service board members for doing a
good job in grooming capable leaders to succeed him. Police Services
Board Chair Bernie Morelli said there was no need to go outside the
police service because all the internal candidates were of such high
calibre.

Mullan's five-year contract starts at a $145,000 salary. A decision on
the deputy chief job left vacant by the chief designate is expected to
be made "as soon as possible" said Jackson.

During his speech, Mullan thanked his wife of 23 years, Loretta, and
his daughters, Stephanie, a 19-year-old McMaster student, and Ashley,
16. "I couldn't have done this without you," he said.