During the 1930s, Ontario Police chiefs realized that the then existing standards in policing were inadequate to meet the demands of a modern society. The challenge of new technology to law enforcement brought policing standards of the day into sharper focus. Police chiefs in Ontario had an active role in the Chief Constables' Association of Canada since its inception in 1905. However, that national association was not meeting the specific needs of provincial police chiefs.

The Police Association of Ontario, formed in 1933, complemented the Chief Constables' Association of Canada in presenting public demands to the Ontario government. In 1944, the Police Association of Ontario's perspective started to change. There was more emphasis placed on police rights and working conditions, as opposed to emphasizing the structure of the police service. By 1951, Ontario Police chiefs, identifying a need to re-establish themselves as a recognized police interest group on a provincial level, founded the Chief Constables' Association of Ontario.

This Association gradually evolved, opening membership to senior officers and police managers. The Association's influence was a significant factor in the establishment of the Ontario Police College in 1963, an initiative that enhanced the organization's prestige and growth. A formal name change to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) was adopted in 1965.

In 1992, the OACP hired its first Executive Director, and established a corporate headquarters.  Also in 1992, the Association's Constitution was revised to give the OPP and Toronto their own representation on the Board of Directors.  In 1993-94, the OACP was licensed to deliver the Constable Selection System (CSS) in partnership with the Ministry of Soilicitor General, a selection tool now widely used to improve the quality of candidates for the position of constable in Ontario's Police Services.  Recognizing the need for Executive Training, the OACP in cooperation with the Ontario Police College, conducted a police executive 'Training Needs Assessment' in 2000.  This was followed by the launch of a competency-based executive development "Police Leadership Program" (PLP) with the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto) in April 2001.  The PLP continues to be offered to identified leaders within police services.  In 2003, the OACP committed to fostering closer partnerships with government decision-makers to address growing concerns over legislative impacts on the effectiveness of policing in Ontario - this remains a high priority for OACP.

The OACP has more than 1,200 members and represents the RCMP, the OPP, First Nations and Municipal Police Services.  Members are divided into six categories: Active, Honorary, Life, Associate, Associate Retired and Affiliate. The Association's members maintain a global perspective by going beyond provincial issues to address national and international concerns.

OACP Past Presidents

Year                                         President                                                 Police Service

2010-11                                   Chief Robert Herman                            Thunder Bay

2009-10                                   Chief Daniel Parkinson                        Cornwall 

2008-09                                   Chief Ian Davidson                               Greater Sudbury 

2007-08                                   Chief William Blair                               Toronto

2006-07                                   Chief Terry McLaren                               Peterborough Lakefield Community

2005-06                                   Chief Armand La Barge                         York

2004-05                                   Chief Paul Hamelin                               Midland

2003-04                                   Chief Ean Algar                                       Halton Region

2002-03                                   Chief Tom Kaye                                       Owen Sound

2001-02                                   Chief Glenn Stannard                            Windsor

2000-01                                   Chief Bruce J. Davis                                South - Simcoe

1999-00                                   Chief Kenneth D. Robertson                 Hamilton – Wentworth Region

1998-99                                   Chief Julian Fantino                              York Region

1997-98                                   Chief Larry Gravill                                   Kitchener

1996-97                                   Chief Trevor McCagherty                        Durham Region

1995-96                                   Chief Kevin McAlpine                            Peterborough

1994-95                                   Deputy Chief Frank Parkhouse            Niagara Region

1993-94                                   Chief Robert Middaugh                         Hamilton – Wentworth Region

1992-93                                   Chief Alvin W. Barber                             Brantford

1991-92                                   Chief Donald Hillock                              York Region

1990-91                                   Chief Rick J. Zanibbi                               Sudbury Region

1989-90                                   Chief David J. Edwards                           Durham Region

1988-89                                   Chief W.I. James Harding                      Halton Region

1987-88                                   Chief John Hughes                                  Windsor

1986-87                                   Chief Gerald S. Rice                                Kingston

1985-86                                   Chief Harold V. Basse                             Waterloo Region

1984-85                                   Chief Robert T. McEwen                          Sault Ste. Marie

1983-84                                   Deputy Chief J. Gayder                            Niagara Region

1982-83                                   Deputy Chief Clarke Lane                       Hamilton

1981-82                                   Chief Jack G. Wales                                 Lindsay

1980-81                                 Chief Robert Cook                                     Sarnia

1979-80                                   Chief Douglas Burrows                          Peel Region

1978-79                                   Dep/Commissioner Jim Erskine           Ontario Provincial Police

1977-78                                   Chief Douglas T. Crosbie                        Belleville

1976-77                                   Chief Jon Jenkins                                     Durham Region

1975-76                                   Chief Albert E. Shennan                          Niagara Region

1974-75                                   Chief Michael W. Solomon                     Fort Frances

1973-74                                   Chief Carl R. Johnston                             Collingwood

1972-73                                   Chief Edward Tschirhart                         Barrie

1971-72                                   Chief Robert McCarron                            Guelph

1970-71                                   Chief David Freeman                              Simcoe

1969-70                                   Chief Wm. Jack Shrubb                           Peterborough

1968-69                                   Chief James P. Mackey                            Toronto

1967-68                                   Chief Allan Clarke                                   Cornwall

1966-67                                   Chief James Torrance                             Sarnia

1965-66                                   Chief Trevor Matthews                           Fort Erie

1964-65                                   Chief Carl W. Farrow                               Windsor

1963-64                                   Chief Fred W. Oliver                                Oakville

1962-63                                   Chief A. Earl Knight                                  London

1961-62                                   Chief George Kerr                                    Brantford

1960-61                                   Chief Garnet McGill                                Toronto Township

1959-60                                   Chief Wilmot E. Young                            Brockville

1958-59                                   Chief John Patrick                                    Kitchener

1957-58                                   Chief Leonard G. Lawrence                    Hamilton

1956-57                                   Chief Irvin L. Robertson                          Sault Ste. Marie

1955-56                                   Chief John Truaisch                                 Kingston

1954-55                                   Chief Robert Alexander                          York Township

1953-54                                   Chief Reginald W. Probert                     Belleville

1952-53                                   Chief Clarence E. Bagnall                       Chatham

1951-52                                   Chief Clarence E. Bagnall                       Chatham