The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, has named Derek Peddle as the new Acting High Sheriff for Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Peddle is taking over from Dan Chafe who was recently named Superintendent of Prisons.
Mr. Peddle began his career as a Deputy Sheriff in 1993 after graduating from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Criminology Certificate. He has had a distinguished and successful career with the Sheriff’s Office and has served in supervisor and managerial roles since 2006. A biography for Mr. Peddle can be found in the backgrounder below.
The High Sheriff is charged with carrying out the duties of the Sheriff’s Office which is responsible for administrative services to the Supreme and Provincial Courts, including bailiff services and executing decisions of the courts, judgement enforcement services under the Judgement Enforcement Act, jury services under the Jury Act and court security services under the Court Security Act.
Mr. Peddle’s appointment is effective immediately.
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“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Derek Peddle to his new role as High Sheriff and look forward to working with him in this new capacity. Sheriff’s officers are integral to the justice system and we are thankful for the hard work they do each and every day to ensure the safety and security of every resident of Newfoundland and Labrador. I am confident that Mr. Peddle’s vast knowledge of the courts, as well as his experience and leadership will serve him well in this new position.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
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BACKGROUNDER
Biography for Derek Peddle
Derek J. Peddle grew up and attended school in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador where he completed Grade 12 at St. Paul’s Central High School. He furthered his studies at Memorial University and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology/Anthropology Major; Political Science Minor) and Certificate of Criminology.
Upon completion of his studies at Memorial University, Mr. Peddle began his career with the Office of the High Sheriff in the province as part of the inaugural graduating class of the Court Security Program.
He served as a Deputy Sheriff I beginning in 1993 and was promoted to Deputy Sheriff II Supervisor in 2006. In 2008 he was promoted to his current position of Manager of Court Security, Eastern Region. During this time, he also served as the Manager of Court Security for the province until the management structure of the Office changed due to the growth of the Court Security Division across the province. Mr. Peddle has an extensive background in court security and is a Peace Officer and Commissioner of Oaths for the province.
During his career with the Sheriff’s Office, he also worked part-time in the airline industry for Air Canada from 2000 to 2010, and served as a Parole Officer with the Correctional Service of Canada in 2011-2012.
During his career with the Office of the High Sheriff, the organization has grown from the original 11 officers servicing the courts in St. John’s, to almost 100 officers servicing 10 court centres across Newfoundland and Labrador.