THUNDER BAY – Chief Supt. Shaun Crabbe has taken command of the Ontario Provincial Police North West Region, placing a veteran of several northern detachments in charge of provincial police operations across a vast and geographically complex part of Ontario.
The OPP announced the promotion Nov. 2 and said it took effect Oct. 12. Crabbe had been the region’s superintendent and director of operations since 2023.
His northern assignments have included detachment command roles in Pickle Lake, Red Lake, James Bay and Rainy River District. The force says he has also served in organized-crime enforcement, traffic and marine operations, provincial traffic operations and the OPP Security Bureau.
Crabbe said in the announcement that his priorities include a modern and responsive service, recruitment and retention, traffic and public safety, employee resilience and stronger partnerships with municipalities, Indigenous communities and other organizations.
The appointment matters across a region where provincial police cover long highway corridors, small municipalities and remote communities, often in partnership with First Nations police services and local boards. The release did not include measurable targets for staffing, response times, highway enforcement or community engagement.
The next step is for the new commander to set those regional priorities in operational terms. Municipal and First Nations leaders will be watching for specifics on vacancies, officer deployment, northern transportation safety and how the OPP intends to build trust across the communities it serves.
