London Police board chair steps down, cites health reasons

CBC News

· Posted: May 02, 2025 6:35 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

London Police Service Board (LPSB) seat Ali Chahbar announced his resignation, Friday afternoon, citing "personal wellness reasons" successful a missive helium shared with the public.

Chahbar's abrupt resignation marked the extremity of his his multi-year agelong tenure successful the presumption he's held for 2 and a fractional years. He had served connected the committee since December 2021.

"Due to idiosyncratic wellness reasons, I indispensable regrettably measurement down from the Board astatine this time," Chahbar's missive reads.

"While I lament that I indispensable measurement distant astatine this time, I firmly judge that serving connected this Board is simply a privilege and that unless a subordinate tin perpetrate themselves afloat and faithfully to the role, they should measurement speech to marque abstraction for different deserving individual."

The quality of the wellness reasons Chahbar said are driving the decisions, is unknown.

Chahbar's time successful the position, portion not without controversy, overlapped with the assignment of a caller constabulary chief, and a propulsion to modernize the London Police Service.

Vice-chair Ryan Gauss volition temporarily instrumentality connected Chahbar's role successful an acting capacity until a caller seat is elected astatine the board's adjacent gathering connected May 15, the LPSB said successful an update provided pursuing the resignation.

Commenting on Chahbar's resignation, Gauss wrote: "Ali has led with clarity, compassion, and a singular dedication to assemblage wellbeing. While we are saddened to spot him measurement down, we enactment his determination to prioritize his wellness and widen our champion wishes to Ali and his family."

The committee said the state has been notified of Chahbar's resignation, and enactment volition commence to capable the vacancy.