Bruno Rossi sworn in as LSPS Chief of Police 

Tim Brody - Editor

Bruno Rossi has officially been sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the Lac Seul Police Service (LSPS). 
Rossi was sworn in by Her Worship Shiree Scribner, Justice of the Peace, on May 2 at the Lac Seul Court House in Frenchman’s Head before Chief and Council, members of the Lac Seul Police Service Board, LSPS officers and members of the community.
Rossi joins LSPS, bringing 25 years of operational and administrative experience. 
He was most recently Inspector of Support Services with the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. 
Rossi has had extensive experience working in various First Nation communities throughout his policing career. 
Between June 2020 and November 2021, Rossi was the Acting Chief of Police for MFNPS. 
Rossi is replacing Staff Sergeant Jason Spooner, who has been the Acting Chief of Police on secondment from the Ontario Provincial Police since 2018. 
Lac Seul First Nation Chief Clifford Bull welcomed Rossi to the community and his new role, presenting him with tobacco and gifts. 
Bull thanked Spooner for the “great work” he had done for the community.
Bull said he is proud Lac Seul maintains a standalone police force.
He acknowledged his brother, the late Roger Bull, as one of the founders of the police force.  
“I only wish good things for our community, and I know Chief Rossi has the same sentiments, that we work hard and protect the community as best we can,” Bull said.
Bull added, “I want to acknowledge somebody that was really instrumental in keeping our force going over the years and now he’s sort of semi-retired, that’s Rick Angeconeb, who’s a Lac Seul band member. We appreciate all his work and great effort… working in our police force as chief for many years. He did a great job.”
Norma Kejick, Chair of the LSPS Board, said, “It’s a great day to have our Chief of Police sworn in. We have been looking for almost four years now… to finally find somebody to come to the community, a First Nations person who has extensive background in First Nation policing is something we’re really pleased with.”
She added, “We’re very proud of our police service and, as Chief Bull said, we’re one of only a couple of standalone police services that are left and most of the other police services have joined together. To keep our police service, as small as it is here, is something that we’re very proud of. It’s something that a lot of people have worked hard to keep the police service going, so I’m really grateful to have him join our service.”
Kejick said Rossi’s experience really stood out to her and the other members of the police board. “When we looked at him and his resume, during the interview, I think what really stood out for us is his 25 years of policing experience, his years of leadership experience that he has as Acting Chief, where he was, Manitoba First Nations Police Service, and the K9 unit that he started… I just think with the issue that we see in our communities with the drugs… the experience that he brings to us with the drugs and different things that he’s done in his community where he worked before to make it a safer place.”
Spooner said it was a great experience working as Acting Chief for Lac Seul for the past three and a half years. “A great experience and a learning experience. There was a lot of work that had to be done that we got done. It’s been three and a half years that went by quite quickly, to be honest. The community has been great. The officers have been great. They have an amazing team of officers and civilian staff that make my job easy.”
He said of Rossi taking over as Chief of Police, “I feel good about it. We’ve had an exhaustive search… with Bruno, I think he is the right fit for this job. He brings a lot of experience, and he is coming from a police service which is essentially just up the road in Manitoba.”
Rossi thanked Spooner stating, “You’ve done a great job from what I can see and what I hear.”
Rossi told those present, “I’m happy to be sworn in as Chief of Police of the Lac Seul First Nation today. Being an Ojibway person, I can say I understand some of the issues our communities face. I have 25 years of First Nation policing and have great understanding in this area. As a First Nation police service, we are always underfunded, which is a big problem when it comes to public safety. As your Chief (of Police), I will work hard with both levels of government to change this, so our community gets the level of service they deserve. I can assure you that our officers will work hard to protect the safety of Lac Seul people and will be involved in the community, building strong relationships and making lifelong friends. It’s all about trust and I will work hard at doing that. We will show much respect to the custom and traditions, and we will honour them daily.”
Rossi said following the swearing in ceremony, “I’m happy to be here. The competition went across Canada, and I applied and was lucky enough to get the position.” 
In addition to being excited to step into the role, Rossi said, “Being an Ojibway community, myself being an Ojibway treaty man, that sparked my attention… I came from a police service that had 56 members and here we’re going to have 11, 12 and hopefully I can expand that to maybe 15. I just want to put the police service on the map and see how much good we can do for the community.”
Rossi reiterated he plans to be involved in the community, “At Manitoba First Nation Police Service, I put myself out there. I learned the culture. I don’t just preach it, I do it, I get involved, and I can’t wait to do that here. Powwows and any events that they’re having, things like that, you’ll see me.”