The North Bay Police Services board announced Tuesday that Robert Norman is the police service’s next deputy police chief, effective Oct. 5. Norman was born in North Bay but has been with the police service in Sudbury for most of his career. Board chair Rich Stivrins told reporters Norman was chosen following a comprehensive executive search process where about a dozen applications were received. “We have great confidence in Bob Norman and the leadership he will bring to the North Bay Police Service,” Stivrins said. “He brings strong policing experience, but just as importantly, he understands this community and what it means to serve it.” Norman was an Ontario Provincial Police auxiliary officer at the North Bay detachment before joining the Greater Sudbury Police Service in 1999. He has more than 27 years of policing experience in Sudbury. “He will bring a strong background in governance, accountability, compliance and reporting, and a new perspective to complement our existing command team,” said Chief Daryl Longworth. Mentoring members of the police service “I’m also looking forward to the mentorship he will provide to our members. Developing and supporting the next generation of police leaders is important to the future.” “I’ve watched, over my time in Sudbury, and more recently since Chief Longworth has taken over, there has been a huge positive trajectory that North Bay has done in implementing such great community initiatives and such great membership supports,” Norman told reporters after the board meeting. As an inspector, he served as the divisional commander of criminal investigations, executive officer to the chief of police and currently, divisional commander of integrated operations. He led the development of the Greater Sudbury Police Service’s 2024–2027 strategic plan, guided the service’s transition to the Community Safety and Policing Act, and provided executive leadership for body-worn camera and digital evidence management initiatives. In his current role, Norman oversees tactical, canine, public order, search and rescue, emergency management, traffic, training and professional development. He is also a Canadian Police College-certified critical incident commander with experience leading police responses to high-risk incidents, major community emergencies, planned events and coordinated multi-agency operations. “What I really have to focus on is listening,” Norman said. “I really have to focus on being present and I really have to focus on engagement -- that’s internally and externally out in the community.” He said cities like North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury all face the same challenges when it comes to drugs, homelessness and mental health, just on different levels. “The job and work remain the same,” Norman said. “It’s just different scales and spectrums of the work that’s required.” He was born in North Bay and was raised in nearby Callander, where he began his career in public service at the age of 18 as a volunteer firefighter. Norman will replace Michael Daze, who has been on leave since May 2025. “Deputy Daze is on an approved leave of absence, and I can’t comment on it,” Stivrins said, adding that “in some capacity” the police agency will be paying for two deputy chiefs when Norman is added to the payroll. Meanwhile, interim acting deputy chief Jeff Warner will be moving back to his old role as inspector of operations.
