Belleville chief of police is stepping down after nearly four years.

In a letter sent to the media, Ron Gignac announced he is leaving the post as of Friday. He did not give any specific reason for the decision, although he did make reference to the first half of the year being “exceptionally challenging and very fatiguing.”

Gignac, who took over as chief from Cory MacKay in 2017, had been on personal leave for at least the last few weeks. No reason was given for the leave, although police board chair Jack Miller said the board was aware of and approved the leave.

Over the past year or so, Gignac has had to deal with not only the challenges of COVID-19 but also incidents of public backlash over what were seen as racist social media posts by at least two of his officers.

One of those officers was recently charged over an unrelated incident.

Gignac has also been the focal point for those wanting to defund the police.

“The first half of this year was exceptionally challenging and very fatiguing as Chief,” Gignac wrote. “I was ‘out of gas’ so to speak as the tempo and requirements of the time were extremely taxing.

“Guess what?  As a servant leader, I have not been perfect while in this position, but I sincerely hope that I might have been able to live up to some of your expectations; and fulfilled our City’s needs regarding public safety over my tenure as Chief.”

In a release, Mayor Mitch Panciuk thanked Gignac for his service to the community.

“On behalf of the residents of the City of Belleville and City Council, I would like to thank Ron Gignac for the role he has played in leading Belleville Police Service in creating a safe and positive community," Panciuk stated. "During his time as Chief, Ron has modernized our Police Service and improved our community safety programs."

"We wish Ron and his family the very best with their future plans.”

In his three-page letter, Gignac thanked a wide variety of people and groups, including his officers and their families, Belleville Police Service Chaplain Padre Brad Beale, Police Services Board and City Councillors,

But his most effusive thanks went to the people of the city of Belleville.

“As with all of my public correspondence, I would like to place thanks upon the citizens of the City of Belleville and surrounding Region that have supported my officers, staff, and I over the past four years,” he wrote.

“We could not have achieved the great feats and endeavours that we have experienced as a police organization without your steadfast support and valiant volunteerism.  We are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful City and Region.”

Gignac acknowledged that not everything he has done for the last four years has always worked out, but noted his greatest accomplishment as chief is that “every police officer, auxiliary police officer, special constable, community police volunteer, and civilian staff member made it home to their spouse, to their families, to their pets, and to their loved ones at the end of their shift or tour of duty. 

“We have accomplished this together as a team,” he stated.

“In the past four years as Chief of Police, I have strived valiantly, worked hard, failed, made mistakes, had successes, come up short, persevered, and fought very hard to try and make Belleville the ‘Safest Community in Ontario’,” he continued

“I have been surrounded by an exceptional group of police, civilian, and community leaders here in Belleville.  You know who you are.  Thank you for your steadfast support and hard work.”

Chair of the Police Services Board Jack Miller told InQuinte.ca Gignac's goal right from Day 1 of his time in the city to retirement was making Belleville the safest community in Ontario and he has made good steps towards doing that in his tenure.

"Everything else stemmed from that. It was more than a philosophy...he acquired the kind of equipment that would help make that happen," Miller stated.

"He was very innovative, he certainly gave our officers every tool that he could possibly give them in order for them to do their jobs."

Examples that Miller provided of Gignac's influence included bringing in the Internet Child Exploitation Unit and the License Plate Recognition System, among others.

"We have been one of the first (police services) in Ontario to have many things that you don't normally see in smaller municipal services. He has meant so much and certainly the innovations he's brought to the Belleville Police Service are going to serve us well for many years to come."

Deputy Chief and current acting chief Mike Callaghan also praised Gignac for his tireless efforts and community spirit, describing him as a "transformational leader," one who is never afraid of looking at new ideas.

"There's no question that he was a very good leader and service to the community was at the forefront of everything he did," Callaghan said.

He added that he learned many essential lessons from Gignac that he hopes to carry forward for the police service, but revealed one in particular.

"If the barriers are in your way, work with other parties and build those relationships that you'll use to tear down those walls.

The Police Service Board will be responsible for hiring a new chief, which Miller said is not likely to be a long process.

"We have had a succession plan in place for years for the day when Ron would retire. That was with Mike Callaghan hired as deputy chief then. He's been the acting chief for the past three months, so that's obviously the first place we'll look."

Gignac had been on a board-approved leave of absence for those last three months.