Churn at the top: understanding predictors of turnover in police leadership in Canada

Police leadership in Canada is in flux. Police leaders appear to be turning over at an alarming rate, potentially jeopardising the stability of police services and raising questions about recruitment and retention by police service boards and commissions. In this study, we examine police chief tenure in 40 jurisdictions across Canada, 2000–2025. We investigate if the rate of police chief turnover is increasing and, if so, which factors contribute to these changes. This research has implications for police leadership in Canada and internationally, by contributing to important conversations about the demographic profile and turnover of police leaders in the twenty-first century.