Winnipeg police chief offered verbal contract extension

Danny Smyth has been offered a verbal contract extension and plans to remain in his role as chief of the Winnipeg Police Service for at least the next eight months.

Smyth, who has held that position since 2016, has been offered the extension by the Winnipeg Police Board, the police service and the board have both confirmed.

His current contract, a two-year extension of an initial five-year term, expires on Thursday.

"We have given him a verbal contract that we're asking to sign. It does allow him to continue on in that role for the foreseeable future," said Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River), who chairs the police board.

The terms of the contract, which include the duration of this latest extension, won't be disclosed until the next police board meeting agenda is published. That is slated to occur no later than Monday.

Winnipeg police spokesperson Kelly Dehn said Smyth requested to remain in his role so he could continue to serve as president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Smyth was elected president of the organization in July 2022, when he was appointed to a two-year term that ends in July 2024.

Chambers said the police board stands by its evaluations of Smyth's performance as chief.

"The previous performance evaluations bear out the fact that the chief is doing what we asked as a board, and we continue to support him in that way," Chambers said.