Staff Profiles

Chief Shawna Spowart brings over 26 years of progressive experience with the CPS and has worked at the Executive Level in various roles including, Officer in Charge of the Community Patrol Division, Inspector of Field Operations and in 2018, Deputy Chief of Police.

A graduate of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, Chief Spowart has consistently demonstrated a leadership role. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the Vulnerable Sector Mobile Acute Response Team (VSMART); the Akwesasne, Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Situation Table; the successful execution of the Service’s Strategic Plans from 2014 to present; as well as the development of a Corporate Communications Strategy. In addition, Shawna has been influential in the transformation of the CPS into one that understands, values and prioritizes Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity.

She is currently on the Board of Directors for both, the Cornwall Community Hospital and Children’s Aid Society of SDG. Formerly the Chair of the Board of Directors for Koala Place, she has also served on the Board of Directors for Maison Baldwin House, Counselling and Support Services of SD&G and Cornwall District Immigration Services.

Throughout her career, Chief Spowart has received various awards including the Police Exemplary Service Medal by the Governor General, Recognition for 20 Years of Service and Awards of Excellence for Team Achievement, Investigations and Meritorious Service.

On January 13th, 2022, Vincent Foy was officially sworn in as Deputy Chief of Police of the Cornwall Police Service (CPS). 

Foy, who was born in Cornwall, joined the CPS with an extensive background in policing, possessing over 26 years of experience. As an experienced bilingual Superintendent with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), he has demonstrated his adaptability through his numerous deployments across the country in a leadership capacity.

Foy commenced his career as a police officer with the RCMP in 1996. From 1996-2007, he held various roles, while working in municipal and provincial policing.

 In 2007, as a Corporal, Foy returned to the Cornwall area where he was posted to the Cornwall-Valleyfield RCMP detachment.  While working in Cornwall, he led an integrated response team with the Cornwall Regional Task Force. During this period, he conducted marine enforcement along the shared waterways in and around the Cornwall area.  In December 2011, Foy was seconded to the Massena Border Enforcement Security Task Force, investigating trans-national organized crime.

 Progressing through the ranks of the RCMP, Foy has worked in several specialty areas of policing, including drug enforcement, organized crime, national security and war crimes. Most recently, Foy held the position of Officer in Charge of Major Crimes for the province of Saskatchewan, where he oversaw multiple units, including General Investigations, Child Exploitation Unit, and the Sex Offender Registry.

 A Business Administration graduate of the University of Ottawa, Foy has continued to apply himself academically and is currently enrolled in the Executive Development in Policing Program through the Canadian Police College. In 2021, he was awarded with the Long Service Medal by the RCMP for 25 years of service, along with Team Commander Accreditation in Saskatchewan. In 2017, he was awarded the Team Commander Accreditation in Ontario, as well as Air Incident Commander Designation.

Foy also has volunteer experience, having served on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Aid Society of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry from 2008 to 2015. He has also been a civilian instructor for the Army Cadets in British Columbia, in addition to being a proud soccer coach for his two sons.

Inspector David Michaud is born and raised in Cornwall. He is a 23-year veteran of the Cornwall Police Service (CPS) where he is currently responsible for the Quality Assurance Division. 

During his career with the CPS he has gained experience in various areas including: Community Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Crime Reduction and Community Partnerships Division, Youth Services Division, and the Professional Standards Bureau.

Inspector Michaud is also very active in the community, currently serving on the Board of Directors for Victim services of SDG&A and the Children’s Treatment Centre. He has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run since 2004 and represents the CPS on various committees within the community including: the Downtown BIA, The Situation Table, Local Immigration Partners, Community Safety and Wellbeing, and Youth Wellness Hub.

Inspector Michaud’s background gives him a solid understanding of the needs of the community and the needs of the Police Service. He is a demonstrated innovative and strategic thinker who is successful at managing complex situations.

Inspector Michaud has been married for 30 years and has two sons.

Inspector Chad Maxwell joined the Cornwall Police Service (CPS) in 2004. First assigned to the Community Patrol Division, he distinguished himself as both a dependable and hard working bilingual patrol officer. He was a designated Scenes of Crime, Traffic Investigator and Coach officer where he successfully trained and instructed a number of CPS recruits. Between 2009 and 2011, Inspector Maxwell worked out of the Criminal Investigations Division as a Detective Constable in general investigations and high-profile cases within the Major Crime office. In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he led several Community Patrol platoons.

In 2015, the Ontario Police College designated Inspector Maxwell as an Adult Educator and Facilitator. Over the years, he has delivered a number of OPC courses in the field of Investigative Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques as well as presentations in Human Trafficking, Cannabis Legalization, Cognitive Interviewing and Statement Admissibility. In 2017, he became the Detective Sergeant in charge of the Criminal Investigations/Sexual Assault & Child Abuse units. In July 2018, Inspector Maxwell was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and oversaw the Community Patrol Division and Traffic Unit.

In 2019, Inspector Maxwell took carriage of CPS Field Operations, which includes the Community Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Crime Reduction/Community Partnerships Division and Court Bureau. He is committed to crime reduction and community safety having led the CPS’ modernization projects, deployment and enforcement activities. Inspector Maxwell is a designated Major Incident Commander and Search and Rescue Manager.

Inspector Maxwell is well known within the City of Cornwall and policing community, having long represented our service on a variety of internal and external committees/task forces with a cross section of community partners. He currently serves as the chair of the Board of Directors for the SD&G Boys and Girls Club, chair of the Board of Directors for Koala Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre and is a volunteer coach with Cornwall Minor Baseball.

Staff Sergeant George Knezevic began his policing career with the Cornwall Police Service in September 1990.

During his policing career he served in Patrol, Criminal investigations, Emergency Response, Training and Operational Support.

Staff Sergeant Knezevic acquired experience in various areas including; Community Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations, Tactical Response, Incident Command, and Emergency Preparedness. He is an experienced public speaker, police educator, coupled with, having extensive exposure to community and media relations.

Staff Sergeant Knezevic is one of the founding members of the Cornwall Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Staff Sergeant Knezevic has served with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves for 10 years, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant.   During his military career, he was deployed to Western Europe as part of a major annual multi-national NATO-led exercise.

Staff Sergeant Knezevic is active in the community, where sits on the board of the Alzheimer’s Society of Cornwall and District as president.   

Staff Sergeant presently oversees Infrastructure Services. 

Staff Sergeant Knezevic has been married for over 34 years and has two sons that are police officers.