Prior to being appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service, Chief Fantino was the Chief of York Regional Police Service, from August 4, 1998 to March 5, 2000. Under his leadership many progressive changes and initiatives were undertaken to ensure optimum Officer and public safety through enhanced resources, and training.

Chief Fantino was also the Chief of the London Police Service from November 4, 1991 to August 3, 1998. During his tenure with the London Police Service, significant changes took place, including internal restructuring, formation of an Emergency Response Unit and a Public Order Unit, updating of technology, initiatives regarding alternate response to calls for service, opening a Police Reporting Centre and development of numerous community partnerships. In 1992, the City of London annexed neighbouring lands, effectively tripling its geographic size, with a minimal increase in police personnel to cover the expanded territory.

During his twenty-three years of service with Metropolitan Toronto Police, prior to his appointment with London, Chief Fantino served in various areas of the Force, including uniform patrol, undercover drug enforcement, Detective Branch, Criminal Intelligence, Homicide Squad and as a Division Commander.

Chief Fantino has lectured extensively to the police community, the public sector and government bodies throughout Canada and the United States on a wide variety of police-related matters and public safety issues and has had articles published in several police magazines and other publications. Chief Fantino is the Past President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Organized Crime Committee. He is also on the Executive Board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a member of the Major Cities Chiefs. He is Past Chair of Criminal Intelligence Services Ontario and has attended meetings of the Interpol Standing Working Party on Offences Against Minors, held in Stockholm, Sweden, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Budapest, Hungary.

Chief Fantino is the recipient of numerous awards, including: Award of Appreciation from the Jane-Finch Multicultural Association and the Jane-Finch Fights Back Committee; Volunteer of the Year (1993) from the London Urban Alliance on Race Relations; the "Order of Merit" (1994) from the National Congress of Italian Canadians; and the "Award of Excellence" (1997) from the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada; the City of Vaughan (1999) Community Relations Award; Commander of the Order of Merit to the Republic of Italy (2000); the Police 20 Year Exemplary Service Medal; the Police 30 Year Exemplary Service Bar; the Canada 125th Commemorative Medal; the Rotary International "Paul Harris Fellow" Award; and is an inductee into the Ontario Special Olympics Hall of Fame, The Canadian Safe Schools Network "Outstanding Service Award (2002)"; "CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations" (2002) from the Canadian Public Relations Society (Toronto) Inc.; Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (2003).

A staunch supporter of the principles of integrity, honesty and accountability in policing, Chief Fantino is well respected by his colleagues, subordinates and the communities where he has served with distinction.