Ontario Provincial Police take over Chapleau policing in 1967 with Ron Lewis in charge of detachment

Ron Lewis

The Ontario Provincial Police took over policing of Chapleau on March 20, 1967 with Corporal Ron Lewis in charge of the detachment.

Since 1885 when the community was established, law enforcement had been more or less a local responsibility, according to Vince Crichton in 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario' but "authentic data" on early law enforcement was lost because no information had been kept.

But the police force evolved with a succession of chiefs and constables until 1967 when the Chief Jim Collings and two constables resigned. 

When the township council was sorting it all out, the provincial police covered the municipality as well as the large area for which it already had responsibility.

Corporal Lewis told the newspaper that he and his officers were quite prepared to give whatever assistance might be needed.

Councillor Olive M. Card, chair of the police committee also  told the Chapleau Sentinel that the provincial police would provide assistance.

In fact, Mrs. Card and Reeve Terry Way-White placed an advertisement in the Sentinel. It read: "To allay all fear and rumours to the contrary, the Municipality of Chapleau will at all times have adequate police protection."

The police committee met with OPP Superintendent Sam Whitehouse to discuss the situation, and as a result, a motion was presented to council on March 20 that the Ontario Provincial Police be police for Chapleau immediately.

The motion passed.

Very soon thereafter, four additional provincial police officers arrived on a permanent basis with Corporal Lewis in charge. 

He had arrived in Chapleau in 1955 and was promoted to corporal in 1966. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1971 and transferred to Dowling.

Since 1957 when the new OPP headquarters was opened just off Highway 101, the municipality had used the jail there, and for a short time, there was also a courtroom there. The jail had been  housed in the basement of the old fire hall on Pine Street. 

Vince Crichton noted that the first resident provincial police officer arrived in Chapleau about 1912 and for many years it was a one officer detachment until John Craig joined Ron Lewis in 1957.

When I was growing up in Chapleau, the township police did not even have a vehicle until about 1952 when Joe Shilliday arrived as chief. They would call upon the OPP officer when a ride was needed, or take a cab.

In 1971, when Ron Lewis was transferred, he and his wife Pearl were honoured by Trinity United Church. Ron was recognized as a 'main cog" in the construction and administration of the Christian Education Wing, while Pearl was active in the United Church Women. Rev. Murray Arnill made presentation on behalf of the congregation.

In 2018, the OPP have been responsible for Chapleau policing over 51 years now. Time flies!!! My email is mj.morris@live.ca

---