Chief of Police: Kirk Earley
Kirk Earley was born and raised in Chatham, Ontario. In 1997, Kirk joined the Chatham Police Service as a special constable. Kirk then spent time as a constable in our front-line Community Patrol Branch, Training Unit as a Use of Force Instructor, Community Priority Action Team concentrating on community issues in the Wallaceburg area, Intelligence Section, and in the Criminal Investigations Branch.
In 2009, Kirk was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and took command of the Investigative Support Unit. Which is responsible for, forensic identification unit, crime stoppers, and crimes against vulnerable persons sections. Kirk also supervised the Intelligence Section, which is responsible for drugs, property crimes, asset forfeiture, and covert operations.
In 2014, Kirk was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was transferred to the Community Patrol Branch to oversee the day-to-day operations of a front-line Community Patrol Platoon. Kirk also managed the Corporate Services Division, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Communications Centre, Court Services Divisions, and Records Section.
In 2017, Kirk was promoted to the rank of Inspector and assigned to oversee the Administrative Support Branch. This division is responsible for property management, fleet, information technology, infrastructure management, and corporate services.
In 2020, Kirk was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Police, overseeing policing operations of the Chatham-Kent Police Service. In June of 2024, Kirk was appointed as Chief of Police.
Over his career, Kirk has received several Police Service Board, Chief and Deputy Chief Commendations related to his leadership and work ethic in Community Involvement, Program Development, and Major Case Criminal Investigations.
Kirk possesses an Honours Degree in Criminology from Athabasca University, and he also has a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership from the University of Guelph. Kirk is a certified Municipal Manager Level III and he is also a graduate of the Police Leadership Program from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Kirk is an active member of the community as a volunteer with a variety of organizations, boards, and sports teams. Kirk possesses a strong work ethic and has proven himself to be an effective and reliable leader within the organization.
Deputy Chief: Jason Chickowski
Jason Chickowski was born and raised in Chatham, Ontario. In 2001, Jason joined the Chatham-Kent Police Service, where he spent the beginning part of his career as a constable in our front-line community patrol branch. In 2004, Jason was selected to be a coach officer.
In 2007, Jason was chosen to be a member of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, working in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Children’s Services. In 2009, Jason was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Branch, during which time Jason was involved with many major crime investigations, including but not limited to: homicide investigations, major sexual assaults, robberies, arson, major fraud, and Internet Child Exploitation investigations.
In 2012, Jason was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was successful in taking over command of Court Services Section.
In 2014, Jason took command of the Records Management Section, where he was jointly responsible for the implementation of the electronic crown brief system currently used by the province, as well as a Lean Six Sigma Analysis of the Unit.
In 2015, Jason returned to community patrol and spent the next five years as a front-line supervisor.
In 2020, Jason was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, where he was assigned as the Manager of Corporate Services, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Communications Centre, Court Services Divisions, Records Management Section, and Special projects.
In 2021, Jason was promoted to the rank of Inspector, where he was assigned command of the Administrative Support Branch. In 2024, Jason was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Police, overseeing policing operations of the Chatham-Kent Police Service.
Jason has been responsible for the implementation and completion of several service-wide projects and has been the recipient of several Police Service Board, Chief, and Deputy Chief Commendations related to his leadership surrounding project implementation, program development, and his performance dealing with major case investigations.
Jason graduated from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, with an Honours Degree in Computer Information Systems and also completed his Master of Arts Degree in Leadership from the University of Guelph. Jason is also a graduate of the Police Leadership Program from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and he has also completed both the Professional Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Leadership from the University of Western Ontario and is a Certified Municipal Manager III, with a Police Professional distinction. In addition, Jason has attended a number of police related management and investigative courses, and he is a certified critical incident commander and major case manager.
Jason is currently an active member of his community as President of Chatham Minor Baseball and on the Executive Board of Family Services Kent. In 2012, Jason was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his many hours working with the youth of the community.
Inspector – Community Patrol Branch: Michael Thompson
On September 3rd, 1996, Mike began his career in policing with the Chatham Police Service, working in the Community Patrol Branch as a Cadet. In January 1997, Mike was elevated to Constable and attended the Ontario Police College (OPC) for Basic Constable Training (BCT).
In 1998, Mike joined the newly formed Chatham-Kent Police Service, working in the Community Patrol Branch.
In January 2002, Mike was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Branch and was assigned to investigate several major-crime incidents. During this time, he received specialised training related to major incidents and file management. In July 2002, Mike received an opportunity to fulfill an early career goal by joining the Traffic Management team as a Collision Investigator / Reconstructionist, where he spent the next ten (10) years as a Constable and Acting Sergeant.
Mike returned to the Community Patrol Branch (General Patrol) in 2012 and was promoted to Sergeant in 2013 as a Patrol Supervisor.
From 2014 through 2017, Mike was assigned to the Training and Professional Development Section. Mike organized, managed and led all Professional Development within the Chatham-Kent Police Service and also participated in the Constable Recruitment process.
In July, 2018, upon being promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, Mike was transferred to the Corporate Services Branch, taking charge of the Records Section, Court Services, and the Emergency Communication Centre (ECC). In January 2019, Mike once again returned to the Community Patrol Branch as a Watch Commander, overseeing all Four (4) General Patrol Platoons, Traffic Services, and managing the day-to-day operations of the Chatham-Kent Police Service. In January 2020, Mike was assigned to a Platoon (B) as a Platoon Commander and held this position until September 2024, when he was promoted to the rank of Inspector.
Currently, Mike leads the Community Patrol Branch, which includes General Patrol, Traffic, Marine, K9, Auxiliary, and the UAS (drone) Unit.
Mike is a graduate of Lambton College with a diploma in Law & Security Administration and has College and University level certificates in the area of Organizational Leadership and Management. Mike is also currently working towards a Degree in Police Studies from Georgian College.
Mike is a proud, life-long resident of Chatham (Chatham-Kent) and contributes to the community on and off duty whenever possible.
Inspector – Administrative Support Branch: Matthew Stezycki
Inspector Matt Stezycki brings over two decades of dedicated policing experience, leadership, and community service to the Chatham-Kent Police Service. He began his career with the Peel Regional Police in 2002 before joining Chatham-Kent Police in 2003, where he started in the Community Patrol Branch.
In 2008, Matt joined the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) as a tactical operator and was promoted to CIRT Supervisor in 2015. In this leadership role, he managed and executed numerous high-risk warrant entries and specialized operations. His expertise in tactical policing is supported by advanced training in chemical munitions instruction, operational planning, leadership, and team dynamics.
In 2017, Matt transitioned to the Patrol Support Section, supervising several specialized units including Traffic Management, Marine, K9, Auxiliary, and the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Unit. After his promotion to Staff Sergeant in 2020, he returned to the Community Patrol Branch as Platoon Commander, leading sworn and civilian personnel in frontline response and incident management.
Matt took on a leadership role within the Professional Standards Branch in 2021, overseeing Internal Investigations, Complaints, Media Relations, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), and the Training and Career Development Section. Following his promotion to Inspector in 2024, he continued to provide oversight to these functions under the Operational Support Branch.
As of January 2025, Matt serves as the Inspector of the Administrative Support Branch. In this role, he oversees Corporate Services, including Emergency Communications, Records, Court Services, and Project Management, as well as Infrastructure Management (Information Technology, Fleet, and Facilities) and Property Management (Quartermaster, Firearms, Property and Exhibits).
Inspector – Operational Support Branch: Gregory Cranston
Inspector Greg Cranston has been serving with the Chatham-Kent Police Service since 2000. With a strong dedication to community safety and service, Cranston has developed a reputation for professionalism and integrity.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Greg developed a passion for law enforcement early on. After earning a degree from the University of Western Ontario, Cranston was hired by the Chatham-Kent Police Service and attended the Ontario Police College, where his passion as a criminal investigator commenced. Throughout his career, Cranston has held various roles, including Patrol Officer, Criminal Investigator, Professional Standards Investigator, Patrol Sergeant, Platoon Staff Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, and in December 2024, was promoted to his current rank of Inspector.
Greg believes in building strong relationships with community members, and he actively participates in local events and initiatives aimed at fostering trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the public.
In his spare time, Greg has enjoyed coaching his children in their various activities, including soccer, hockey, and baseball, which helps him connect with not only his own family but connect with the community on a personal level. Greg feels privileged to serve the Chatham-Kent community, and he is committed to making Chatham-Kent a healthier and safer place for all.