CHIEF CONSTABLE MARK NEUFELD
Chief Constable Neufeld believes strongly in providing top-quality police service to the community through professionalism, innovation, and inclusive leadership that is supportive of employees. The women and men – both sworn and civilian – who deliver frontline police service have been particularly special to him throughout his career and his priority is to serve and protect not only the community, but also those who commit themselves to serving and protecting the community.
Neufeld joined the Calgary Police Service in 2019 after serving as the Chief of the Camrose Police Service, a smaller community that gave him the opportunity to build strong partnerships with staff and residents to improve quality of life in the city.
Neufeld is well and positively connected within police circles provincially, nationally, and internationally. He is currently Interim President of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, Chair of the ALERT board of directors, and a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police board of directors.
Neufeld recently completed a Masters in criminology and police management at the University of Cambridge. He has also completed the CACP Executive Global Studies program, where he studied international approaches to cybercrime, and the International Executive Development in Policing program from the Canadian Police College and Hong Kong Police College. Upon completion, he was invited to join the faculty of this program where he led a syndicate of senior police leaders from both Canada and Hong Kong through the program.
In 1992, Neufeld’s police career began with the Vancouver Police Department. The illness of a parent brought him to the Edmonton Police Service the following year. He spent 12 years as a frontline patrol officer, including in Edmonton’s diverse inner-city where he worked with residents and community partners to address neighbourhood crime, disorder, and social issues. He also has experience in undercover operations, incident command, crisis negotiation, and as a member of the EPS Public Order Unit working on the G-8 and G-20 summits, Stanley Cup and Grey Cup deployments, as well as the 2006 riot.
Neufeld was promoted to the role of detective in Internal Affairs in 2004 and to Staff Sergeant in the Intelligence Section in 2007. A secondment in 2007 brought him to the Province of Alberta where he successfully assisted with the implementation of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).
In 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Inspector and assigned to Professional Standards where he led the development of a strategic planning process that resulted in the restructuring of the branch, the civilianization of numerous investigative and administrative positions, and an increased emphasis on alternative dispute resolution and complaint prevention.
Along the way, Neufeld made sure staff were actively engaged in setting direction and priorities. He celebrated successes and acknowledged the efforts of individuals and teams.
As an Inspector, he also spent time in the Human Resources Division where he developed a recruitment strategy for the police service before being seconded to ASIRT for a second time as the Director of Investigations.
In 2014, Neufeld was promoted to Superintendent, Criminal Investigations Division, where he was responsible for all EPS major and serious crime units, including homicide, missing persons, robbery, arson, sexual assault, child protection, domestic conflict, Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE), elder abuse, economic crimes, auto theft and support units including the Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT) and the Police and Crisis Team (PACT). In this role, he made it a priority to encourage strong working relationships between frontline officers and specialized investigative units.
Two years later, Neufeld moved back to operations as Superintendent of the Southwest Division, a large, diverse area of Edmonton that stretched from the University district to the southern city limits. In this role, he made a point of being visible, accessible, and approachable. He applied an approach to problem solving that involved encouraging open and honest conversations, and moved the division forward through patience, compassion and consistency.
Neufeld then transitioned to Chief of the Camrose Police Service where he held his position for two years before joining the Calgary Police Service.
Neufeld was invested as a member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2014. He is also the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Police Exemplary Service Medal, and the Alberta Law Enforcement Long Service Medal.
DEPUTY CHIEF PAUL COOK
Paul Cook joined the Calgary Police Service in 1990 and was promoted to Deputy Chief on November 16, 2015.
Deputy Chief Cook has served in a wide variety of areas within the CPS including Patrol Sergeant, and later, District Inspector. An extensive portion of his career has been spent in the Support Section moving through the ranks from Constable to Superintendent.
Having admirably served as the interim Chief for seven months in 2015, Deputy Cook reassumed the Executive Officer position for the newly appointed Chief Constable Roger Chaffin for a short time before being promoted to Deputy Chief. After briefly commanding the Bureau of Operations, he now heads the Bureau of Investigative Support, which includes the Criminal Investigations and Criminal Operations Divisions.
He is a certified hostage negotiator, and holds a National Level 2 Incident Commander Certification. Throughout his career he has undertaken extensive advanced police training, and has served in senior multi-agency positions.
Deputy Chief Cook is a recipient of both the Distinguished Service Award (2004) and the Exemplary Service Medal (2010).
ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF STEVE BARLOW
Acting Deputy Chief Steve Barlow joined the Calgary Police Service in September of 1989. In October 2018 to June 2019 he guided the Service through a transition period as the interim Chief Constable.
As a 29 year veteran of the Calgary Police Service, he has held senior positions in patrol, specialized investigations, major crimes, professional standards, and human resources. In his previous position as acting deputy chief of operations, Acting Deputy Chief Barlow focused on getting front-line officers the support they need to keep Calgary safe, including sponsoring the roll-out of body worn cameras and hard body armour.
Acting Deputy Chief Barlow was the lead commander during some of Calgary’s most challenging major criminal cases, including the investigations that led to charges against Douglas Garland and Matthew de Grood. He also played an integral role in the creation of the Child Advocacy Centre that opened in 2013. The Centre remains a place of hope, help and healing to children, youth and families who are survivors of abuse.
He is currently the Executive Sponsor of the Patrol Advisory Committee, Vehicle Flights Events committee and Co-Sponsor of the Public Safety Portfolio, and Chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Aviation’s Security Committee and Acting Chair of the Board of Governors for Calgary 911.
Acting Deputy Chief Barlow holds a certificate from the Police Executive Research forum in Senior Police Management, a certificate in HR from the University of Calgary, a certificate in Leadership Development from the University of Alberta and a Diploma in Criminology from Mount Royal. He also holds a certificate in the Leadership Development Program 300 from the Haskayne School of Business and was trained in Incident Command.
He is the recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal, Alberta Police Officer Long Service Recognition Medal, Alberta Emergency Services Medal and the Calgary Police Distinguished Service Award.