A familiar face has been chosen as the new chief of the Stratford Police Service.
Mike Bellai, who had been a deputy chief with the organization, has been named as its new chief.
He replaces former chief John Bates, who moved east last summer to head up the Saint John Police Force in New Brunswick.
Bellai, who has been with the Stratford Police since 1990, becomes the city’s 17th police chief.
