MEET THE CHIEF: Montgomery brings wealth of experience to Annapolis Royal Police Service

Liz Montgomery is the new chief of the Annapolis Royal Police Service. JASON MALLOY Photo by Jason Malloy /Jason MalloyArticle contentLiz Montgomery didn’t think she would be moving back to Nova Scotia or returning to policing.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentShe is and couldn’t be happier.Article contentArticle content“I am just like over the moon,” says the new chief of the Annapolis Royal Police Service.Article contentArticle contentGETTING INTO POLICINGArticle contentMontgomery was born and raised in Bridgetown.Article contentShe applied for the Toronto Police Service’s cadet program and left for the country’s biggest city with $150 and a suitcase in December 1989. Becoming a police officer was a way to serve and give back to the community.Article contentArticle contentShe worked in a variety of roles during her nearly 30-year career in Toronto. It included time as a patrol officer and a member of specialized sections like the marine unit and the sex crimes unit.Article content“I was able to have a great career with the Toronto police,” Montgomery says. “It was a very nice career and I enjoyed every moment of it.”Article contentIn 2019, she retired and planned to spend time at home in Kitchener-Waterloo.Article contentArticle contentNEW ROLE AND CONNECTING WITH HOMEArticle contentBut Montgomery received a call about some important work that she might be interested in. It was with the Mass Casualty Commission following the tragic events of April 18 and 19, 2020.Article content“This is my home province and it matters,” Montgomery says. “Doing that work also mattered, so there was no way I was going to say no.”Article contentWhile serving with the commission, Montgomery spent more time in the Annapolis Valley on the weekends than she had when she had vacationed there in the past.Article content“I had forgotten how magical this place is, which it truly is,” says Montgomery. “Internally, it took me a while to recognize this was where I wanted to be.”Article contentArticle contentShe decided to move back to the Annapolis Valley in 2023.Article contentHer parents are both well-known in the community.Article contentLaurie was a teacher who also served as the MLA for Annapolis in 1998 and 1999. He died in 2019.Article contentPaula served as a town councillor, chaired and worked with the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, and was the president of the Nova Scotia School Boards Association.Article contentArticle contentOPPORTUNITYArticle contentWhen Montgomery visited Annapolis Royal on vacations, she would often think about working with the Annapolis Royal Police Service as she walked by the office or saw officers around town.Article contentEarlier this year, Chief Mark Kane resigned to become the chief of the Deep River Police Service in Ontario. He started that position on June 29. Kane had served as Annapolis Royal’s chief since late 2020.Article content“The opportunity presented itself and I decided to throw my name in the hat,” explains Montgomery.Article contentShe was hired and has been on the job for more than a month.Article content“She brings a lot of experience from a large metropolitan area, but she’s a local girl … which is wonderful,” Mayor Amery Boyer says. “She’s somebody who went away, got all that training and experience. … We’re just thrilled.”