The Waterloo Regional Police Service Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Staff Superintendent John Goodman as the new Deputy Chief of Community Policing for the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Deputy Chief Designate Goodman joins Deputy Chief Jen Davis and Deputy Chief Eugene Fenton as the Service's third Deputy Chief of Police. 

“We are pleased to welcome Deputy Chief Designate John Goodman to this new role,” said Board Chair Ian McLean. “He has proven to be a dedicated leader with a passion for community engagement that will continue to serve the Waterloo Region community and its residents well.”

Deputy Chief Designate Goodman brings 31 years of dedicated service to this role, with extensive experience in various frontline, investigative, and leadership positions across the organization.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a strong commitment to building community partnerships.

He is a recipient of the Medal of Order of Merit, and in 2023, he received the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police’s (OACP) Excellence in Leadership Award for his tremendous contributions to law enforcement, his outstanding service to Waterloo Region, and his exemplary leadership.

Deputy Chief Designate Goodman served as Acting Chief of Police from July 2022 to November 2022.  

He has held prominent leadership roles with various community and youth-focused initiatives, including the WRPS Cops and Youth program and Citizen’s Police Academy.

He has been a champion for innovation in mental health response across Waterloo Region and was instrumental in the development of the WRPS Crisis Call Diversion program. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, and he provides leadership, mentorship, and support to numerous organizations, including the Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region, the Islamic Centre of Cambridge, Muslim Social Services of Waterloo Region, and Nigerians in the Region of Waterloo (NIROW).

“I am honoured to have been chosen for this position and look forward to working with the Board, the residents of Waterloo Region, and the incredible members of WRPS,” said Deputy Chief Designate Goodman. “It has been a privilege to serve the community for the past three decades, and I will continue to dedicate my time building strong community partnerships as we work to advance public safety.”

“Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Designate Goodman has earned a reputation for exceptional leadership and a genuine commitment to community engagement,” said Chief of Police Mark Crowell. “His appointment will allow us to continue building strong community partnerships while delivering effective policing to residents of Waterloo Region.”

Deputy Chief Designate Goodman’s appointment will take effect November 2, 2025.