Deputy chief to take over as head of York police

York Regional Police (YRP) Deputy Chief Paulo Da Silva will take over the helm of the force effective June 27, following the retirement of Chief Jim MacSween.

Da Silva has more than 31 years of policing experience under his belt, including five years as YRP’s deputy chief. In that role, 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.

“He is widely recognized for his sound judgment, collaborative leadership style and dedication to excellence in policing,” YRP Services Board Chair Steve Pellegrini said of the appointment. “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.”

Through a “wide range of successful initiatives,” 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, according to YRP. He is currently committee chair of Be a Hero (formerly Cops for Cancer) in support of Southlake Hospital. He previously served as co-chair of United Way of York Region and as a board member of St. John Ambulance.

“YRP is defined by its people and its commitment to the communities we serve,” Da Silva says. “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.”

The YRP Service Board announced in February that, following a six-year tenure as chief of police, MacSween will retire on June 26.

Photo of Chief-Designate Paulo Da Silva courtesy of York Regional Police.