President: Chief Robert J. Walsh
Chief Robert J. Walsh has 32 years of extensive policing experience across general duty patrols, school liaison, traffic services, street crime & drugs, major crime, watch command and emergency response, with 10 years of senior leadership managing patrols, training, operational support, human resources and finance & administration.
He came to policing from the Atlantic Police Academy in 1991, following a Bachelor of Business Administration from Cape Breton University and French Immersion Program at Université Saint Ann, serving for the Sydney Mines, Sydney and Cape Breton Regional Police services, as well as a short period with the RCMP in Nova Scotia. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cape Breton University, a Certificate in Police Leadership from Dalhousie University, and is a certified Use of Force and Firearms Instructor, Critical Incident Commander and Major Case Team Commander.
Chief Walsh is passionate about safe and healthy communities and is a strong supporter of initiatives that build and foster community resilience. He has served on Boards and projects within the Cape Breton Regional Centre for Education, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Nova Scotia Department of Justice; participated in mentorship and liaison between community and police; led programs for occupational safety, health and wellness in policing; coached minor hockey and soccer, and volunteered with community sports teams and events. Chief Walsh is a long-standing member of the NS LETR Provincial Organizing Committee and proudly participated in the Final Leg running teams for the Special Olympics National Games in both BC and Nova Scotia.
In addition to Vice President of the NSCPA, Chief Walsh is Co-Chair of its Executive Development Committee, a member of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Policing Standards Committee and a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. He is a recipient of both the Police Exemplary Service Medal and the Nova Scotia Police Long Service Medal.
Vice President: Chief Scott Feener
Chief Feener started his career with the Metropolitan Toronto Police Service July 1989 where he worked patrol. He was a graduate of the Ontario police college where he obtained his police certificate.
In June 1993 Scott joined the Bridgewater Police Service. He has worked in patrol, investigations and was seconded to the Criminal Intelligence Services of Nova Scotia for a number of years. In September 2007 he was promoted to Sergeant in charge of the General Investigation Section until he returned to patrol as a shift supervisor August 2010.
In December 2011 he was promoted to Deputy Chief where he was in charge of operations. In August 2016 he was appointed as the Acting Chief of Police and in September 2018 he subsequently appointed the permanent position of Chief of Police.
Scott in a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. He sits on the executive of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police as secretary. He is also a member of the National Police Information Services Advisory Board, representing the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police.
Scott has received a Chief’s Commendation as well as a Commanding Officer’s Certificate of Outstanding Service from the RCMP. He has received his Police Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years of service as well as the Nova Scotia Long Service Medal for 15 years.
Secretary: Chief Dwayne Pike
Dwayne Pike began his career as a constable in 1996 with the Amherst Police Department after graduating from the Atlantic Police Academy in November of 1995. While at the Academy, he was squad leader and was selected as class valedictorian and received the Chief Robert Innes Leadership Award. Prior to this, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds an Arts Degree with a double major in Physical Anthropology and Sociology and completed the Criminology Certificate Program.
During his career in policing, he was extensively involved in the school liaison program prior to being assigned to the Major Crime Unit for 3 years. In January 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and returned to uniform patrol until he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police in January of 2014 and was in charge of operations. He was appointed as the Acting Chief of Police in July of 2018 and subsequently appointed Chief of Police in March of 2019.
Dwayne has been on the NSCPA Executive since 2021 as Secretary and is a member of the NSCPA Wellness Committee. He has received both his Police Exemplary medal for 15 and 25 years as well as the Nova Scotia Long Service Medal for 15 years. In February of 2023 he was presented Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
During his career, Dwayne has been heavily involved with his community, coaching football, basketball and is an active member of his church and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Amherst fsince 2019.
Treasurer: A/Chief Don MacLean
Chief Don MacLean began his policing career in 1993. He was appointed Chief of Halifax Regional Police in September of 2023. Since 2020 he had held the position of Deputy Chief of Operations, overseeing both the patrol and criminal investigation divisions.
Prior to serving as Deputy Chief, he was the Superintendent of the Patrol Division. Chief MacLean served as the first Diversity Officer for Halifax Regional Police from 2004 to 2006 and went on to become the Executive Officer to the Chief and later the Human Resources Officer.
A lifelong resident of Halifax, Chief MacLean is a long-serving member of the Board of Directors for St. John Ambulance Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island Council, is an active member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police as well as on the Board of Directors for Phoenix Youth. He currently serves as the Co-chair of the Wortley Report Research Committee, which consists of community stakeholders and partners doing important work to address bias and systemic racism in policing. He’s also a member of the Board of Governors for the University of King’s College and has previously received an appointment as an Honorary Aide-De-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Chief MacLean was invested into the Order of St. John in 2017, and recently became the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
He attended the University of King’s College and has continued his education through Saint Mary’s University Executive and Professional Development, Dalhousie College of Continuing Education, Canadian Police College and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Past President: Chief David MacNeil BA, M.O.M.
David MacNeil is a twenty-five year member of the Truro Police Service. During that time he served as patrol Constable, then Corporal and was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2000 where he served as shift supervisor until August of 2005 when he was promoted to Deputy Chief. In October 2008 Chief MacNeil was promoted to his current position as Chief of Police.
Chief MacNeil has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Sociology from Saint Mary’s University, and is a graduate of the Atlantic Police Academy. He has completed an Executive Certificate in Local Government at Dalhousie University, and has studied at the Canadian Police College, and the Atlantic Police Academy. Chief MacNeil graduated from the Executive Development in Policing Program at the Canadian Police College in October 2007. He is the recipient of the Nova Scotia Police Long Service Medal and the police Exemplary Service Medal. In 2012 Chief MacNeil was selected to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2019 was invested into the Order of Merit of Canada for Police Forces.
Chief MacNeil serves on several training and advisory committees in Nova Scotia. He is a member of both the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and a past Executive member of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association. He was a long time volunteer coach with Truro and Area Minor hockey Association and the Central Colchester Soccer Association, and is the head coach of the Cobequid Educational Centre Girls High School basketball team, and has coached a Club Team with Basketball Nova Scotia.
Chief MacNeil serves on the Board of Directors of the Colchester East Hants Mental Health Association, the Schools Plus Board, Colchester Partners Board, and is a campaign volunteer with the United Way of Colchester County.
Chief MacNeil was presented with the Colchester County/Town of Truro 2017 volunteer of the year Award at a ceremony in April 2017.