Police chiefs past and present, chiefs from other police services and the Lieutenant-Governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau on hand for the Change of Command at Peel Plaza.
The Saint John police honour guard leading outgoing chief Bill Reid and incoming chief John Bates.
Bates tells us he says they have current challenges with contract negotiations and budget deliberations.
He says on the short term addressing those to the satisfaction of all concerned is of prime importance right now.
Chief John Bates referenced the Paris attacks in his speech saying police agencies everywhere are combating the threat of terrorism that is either homegrown or imported.
Bates will not rule out the use of part-time police officers calling it a possibility they can look at adding he’s concerned about burnout with officers not getting their days off and working a lot of overtime.
