Smiths Falls Police Service Chief Jodi Empey
Smiths Falls police chief makes historic retirement announcement
Smiths Falls Police Chief Jodi Empey will retire at the end of 2026, closing a policing career that has spanned more than 32 years in the community.
The Smiths Falls Police Services Board says Empey has announced her retirement, effective Dec. 31, 2026.
Empey began her career with the Smiths Falls Police Service in 1994 as a recruit. She rose through the ranks over more than three decades, becoming deputy chief in 2022 before serving as acting chief.
She was officially appointed police chief in July 2024, becoming the first female police chief in the history of the Smiths Falls Police Service.
The board says Empey has been known for her leadership, professionalism and commitment to community policing. It says her work with community partners and her focus on public safety have left a lasting mark on the service and the town.
“Chief Empey’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the community have been invaluable to the Smiths Falls Police Service,” said board chair Chris Saumure.
Saumure said Empey’s decades of service, including breaking barriers as the first female chief of police in Smiths Falls, helped shape the organization.
“On behalf of the Board and the community, we thank Chief Empey for her years of dedication and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement,” he said.
Empey said serving the town has been an honour.
“I am extremely proud of the members of the Smiths Falls Police Service and grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated individuals throughout my career,” she said.
The board will begin planning for a leadership transition and recruitment process in the coming months.
