York Regional Service Board Appoints New Chief of Police

The York Regional Police Service Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Deputy Chief Paulo Da Silva as the next Chief of Police for York Regional Police, effective June 27, 2026.

Following a comprehensive selection process, the Board is confident that Chief-Designate Da Silva is the right leader to guide York Regional Police into the future,” said Board Chair Steve Pellegrini. “He is widely recognized for his sound judgment, collaborative leadership style and dedication to excellence in policing. His experience and forward-looking perspective will be instrumental as the organization continues to evolve to meet the needs of a growing and diverse community.”

Throughout his career, Chief-Designate Da Silva has demonstrated a strong commitment to community-focused policing, innovation and professional development. He is known for fostering inclusive and supportive workplaces, building high-performing teams and strengthening partnerships across sectors.

He will assume the role following the retirement of Chief Jim MacSween on June 26, 2026, who leaves behind a legacy of service and leadership. Over the next eight weeks, Chief-Designate Da Silva will work closely with the outgoing chief, benefiting from a structured transition period focused on mentorship, knowledge transfer and continuity of leadership for the organization.

Chief-Designate Da Silva brings more than 31 years of policing experience, with over five years as Deputy Chief, and has held a wide range of leadership roles throughout his career at York Regional Police. As Deputy Chief, he was assigned to lead the Administration Branch and over the past three years has overseen the Community Safety Branch, where he is responsible for more than 1,200 members.

In this role, Chief-Designate Da Silva has been deeply invested in the well-being of York Region residents, engaging with members of the public, community partners and leaders at all levels to combat crime, strengthen trust and collaboration, and advance proactive, community-driven approaches to public safety.

Through a wide range of successful initiatives, Chief-Designate Da Silva has placed an emphasis on modernizing the police service to meet evolving public safety needs and adapt to a rapidly changing criminal landscape.

Chief-Designate Da Silva is also active in the community, volunteering his time at numerous benevolent organizations. He is currently the Committee Chair of Be a Hero (formerly Cops for Cancer) in support of Southlake Hospital, and previously served as Co-Chair of United Way of York Region and as a board member of St. John Ambulance.

I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of serving as Chief of Police, and I am grateful to the York Regional Police Service Board for their trust in my leadership,” said Chief-Designate Paulo Da Silva. “York Regional Police is defined by its people and its commitment to the communities we serve. I look forward to building on that foundation, working alongside our members and community partners to deliver policing that is responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking, grounded in compassion, integrity, fairness, and respect.” 

I want to recognize our uniform and civilian members, our volunteers, and the leadership of both the York Regional Police Association and the Senior Officers’ Association, your professionalism and dedication are the strength of this organization,” Chief-Designate Da Silva added. “Together, we will strengthen trust through transparency, collaboration, and accountability. Our focus remains clear: to keep our communities safe, and to ensure they feel safe.”

Video assets: Chief-Designate Paulo Da Silva B-roll

Contact: 
Jaclyn Kogan, Interim Executive Director, Police Service Board
psb@yrp.ca, 1-866-876-5423 ext. 3000

The Regional Municipality of York Police Service Board is a seven-member civilian Board that oversees and governs the York Regional Police. A municipal Board is comprised of one member as Head of Municipal Council or other appointed member of council; three members are appointed by resolution of Regional Council and three by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

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