Wanted: Ottawa police chief; unilingual outsiders need not apply

The nextOttawa police chief must be fluent in both of Canada's official languages but only if he or she is not from Ottawa, the city's Police Services Board has decided.

The board approved a policyMonday night that sets the language bar higher for outside candidates seeking to replaceVince Bevan, who is officially bilingual and planstoretire in March after six years heading the city's police force.

But even a candidate from Ottawa won't get away with speaking only English or Frenchforever, said Coun. Michel Bellemare, who sits on the board.

"That internal candidate, if not bilingual already, would have ... to take the necessary second language classes in order to become bilingual," Bellemare said.

Deputy chiefs Larry Hill and Sue O'Sullivan, who both speak some French, are thought to be possiblecandidates for their boss'sjob.

Preliminary crime stats released

Meanwhile,Bevanreleased preliminary city crime statistics that show violent crimes, such as assaults and robberies,continue todecline, a trend thatbegan several years ago.

Bevan told board members that Ottawa's crime rate is the lowest among major cities in Canada and its record at solving murders is also the best in the country.

He noted that 65 homicides took placebetween January 1998 and December 2005andonly tworemain unsolved.

"That represents a clearance rate of 97 per cent," he said.

An upcoming study will release resultscomparing the success of different cities in solving murder cases.

Not all crime is decliningin Ottawa, however. Bevan said parole violations and counterfeiting are increasing.