ESTEVAN — The Estevan board of police commissioners announced the hiring of a new police chief on Aug. 13 during the latest meeting.
The board members said they are pleased to welcome Jamie Blunden who's been the police chief in Weyburn since 2020. Blunden will start in October.
Since current Estevan Police Chief Richard Lowen is leaving on Aug. 31 to take on the Saskatchewan marshals deputy chief role, Deputy Chief Warren Morrical will be the interim chief until Blunden's first day.
Before accepting the job in Weyburn, Blunden resided in Cooks Creek, Man., where he served with the City of Winnipeg Police Force for the previous 29 years, working in multiple different roles. His duties included being the inspector of the Specialized Investigations Division, where he commanded the following units: Child Abuse, Sex Crimes, Internet Child Exploitation, Counter Exploitation, Missing Persons, Domestic Violence, Vulnerable Persons, the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System and the Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex Offender Unit.
Blunden has a bachelor of arts degree with a major in criminology and a minor in psychology.
As chief of police, Blunden will oversee management of the EPS activities including law enforcement, crime prevention and education/awareness programs.
“He [Blunden] brings a wealth of experience to the job. We're all looking forward to him taking over; at the same time we feel sad about Chief Lowen leaving. He's done a great job for us. He will be missed. Chief, we wish you all the very best in your future endeavors,” said Estevan Mayor and chair of the board of police commissioners Roy Ludwig during the meeting.
It was Lowen’s last Estevan board of police commissioners meeting, and the board presented him with a memorable gift, which included a City of Estevan blanket and a picture of the Estevan water tower.
