Rich Swann is Gananoque’s new police chief

Rich Swann has walked these streets his whole life. First as a kid, then as a cop, and now, as of March 26, as chief of police.

The Gananoque Police Services Board has officially named Swann the town’s new top officer, marking a moment of immense hometown pride for both the department and the man himself.

A lifelong resident, Swann has spent nearly three decades serving the community he grew up in, first joining the force in 1997 and rising to the rank of sergeant in 2015.

For the past several months, he’s worn the acting chief’s badge, steering the department through transition with a steady hand. Now, that role is his outright.

“Born and raised in Gananoque, Chief Swann is committed to community policing and will continue to build upon the strong foundations from previous chiefs,” said the Gananoque Police Service in a prepared statement.

“Throughout his career, Chief Swann has represented the Gananoque Police Service on committees and working groups both locally and provincially, always with a view to improving the lives of the people he serves in Gananoque.”

Swann steps into a role that carries not just authority, but responsibility – the kind that comes with knowing every street corner, every back road, every name behind the doors he’s sworn to protect.

“Gananoque looks forward to this next chapter in the storied history of the Gananoque Police Service under the guidance of Chief Swann,” the department concluded.