Bridgewater police leaders build partnerships, explore new tech at annual conference
(Promotional material highlighting the conference; Scott Feener, Chief of Police, Bridgewater Police Service, left, speaks with Ryan Leil, Chief of Police, New Glasgow Regional Police; police leaders and Nova Scotia Minister of Justice, Scott Armstrong, sixth from left, assemble for a group photo.)
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
Law enforcement leaders discussed police modernization, explored emerging technologies and highlighted the benefits of community collaboration at the annual Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association/Nova Scotia Association of Police Governance (NSCPA/NSAPG) fall conference.
The Bridgewater Police Service delegates attending the Oct. 14-16 event at the Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre in Western Shore, Lunenburg County, were Scott Feener, Chief of Police and Danny MacPhee, Deputy Chief of Police.
“Conferences like these give us a chance to strengthen relationships with other policing services and explore new ways to work together that benefit everyone,” Feener said.
“The contracts that saw Bridgewater Police Service begin dispatching police services for Kentville and Annapolis Royal grew out of relationships built at events like this,” added MacPhee, “so, you never know from where the next great idea might come.”
Nova Scotia Justice Minister Scott Armstrong addressed the delegation, emphasizing public safety requires strong, collaborative partnerships among police, government, municipalities, and community organizations. Armstrong highlighted the province’s ongoing work to put in place recommendations from a comprehensive policing review. He also noted provincial spending planned or taking place to bolster frontline operations and rural policing.
The province is also spending on a single records management system to improve inter-agency information sharing among law enforcement and ease administrative burdens.
The conference also showcased cutting-edge public safety technology. For example, Motorola Solutions presented advanced tools, such as high-speed license plate recognition systems capable of reading plates at speeds exceeding 200 mph in total darkness.
Bridgewater Police Service recently partnered with Motorola Solutions on new CCTV video technology for monitoring key areas of town.
Conference delegates also learned about drone technologies integrated with 911 dispatch systems. These drone-as-first-responder programs allow automated units to arrive at emergency scenes in under 70 seconds to provide vital situational awareness and life-saving equipment before ground units arrive.
In addition to technology, sessions addressed social and educational issues.Representatives from Nova Scotia’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development briefed attendees on the ongoing review of the 2017 School-Police Protocol. Prompted by a 2024 Auditor General report on rising school violence, the review aims to clarify roles between educators and law enforcement, establish standardized reporting definitions and enhance emergency preparedness across schools.
The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) also presented to police leaders, detailing its 45-year history of supporting newcomers across the province. ISANS highlighted its preventive and intervention services, emphasizing its ongoing collaboration with legal and social service partners. The agency launched a new restorative justice case management pilot program.
Motivational speaker Jim MacGowan helped shift the conversation toward personal growth. He encouraged attendees to reflect on mindset, happiness, and empathetic leadership. His message emphasized that strong leadership and professional success are built on continuous self-development and learning.
