Cobourg Police Chief will retire in June

Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf. File Photo

By Cecilia Nasmith

Though the special meeting of the Cobourg Police Services Board had one item on the agenda (“update from Board Chair Adam Bureau” followed by a closed session), it opened with no audio – and the sound clicking in in time for listeners to hear Chief Paul VandeGraaf restiring.

It wasn't until his later remarks that it became clear that this does not take place immediately, but the first words viewers heard were the chief saying, “...hadn't planned to step away just yet, but recent reflections and evolving circumstances have made it very clear that now is the right time to close this chapter and open a new one.

“It's been an honour and a privilege to serve the residents of Cobourg as your chief. Together, we have accomplished great milestones with the unwavering support of our Police Services Board, Police Association, town council, our community partners and especially those who serve,” Vandegraaf said.

“Most importantly, I have had the unwavering support and trust of the members of the Police Association and this board. That is a gift I do not take lightly.

“I have always said being a police officer is the best job in the world,” he said, taking a pause.

“There have been many, many times where the job has been all-consuming and ha deprived my family of a husband and father,” he added, taking another pause.

“It's now time for me to step away from the office of chief and devote my time to my family and future endeavours yet to be determined.

“You have empowered me to lead with integrity, take risks when necessary, and always keep the greater good in view, I am truly proud of what we have accomplished together.”

VandeGraaf said that this move is “100% my decision.

“I leave with immense appreciation, respect and pride in everything we have accomplished together.”

Bureau has worked with the chief since becoming counsellor seven years ago. He related that VandeGraaf came to Cobourg in 2014 as Deputy Chief and was sworn in as chief in 2019. The interim represents a time of enormous change that has not been limited to Cobourg.

As an example, the 2013 annual report lists total drugs seized with a street value of $97,000. Then came fentanyl, and a recent joint search warrant executed in partnership with the Port Hope Police Service seized some 472 grams of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $320,000.

There have also been challenges such as the multi-year COVID-19 pandemic and the rising number of incidents resulting from mental health, addiction and homelessness issues.

“Our growing community has seen a growing hostility,” Bureau added, along with a return of discrimination to a degree no one could have imagined. During it all, VandeGraaf “led with a heavy hand, a steady hand, and thoughtful insight.”

Bureau recalled that VandeGraaf's inaugural address had contained the pledge that innovation would be the theme of his tenure. True to his word, Bureau said, “the Cobourg Police Services has evolved beyond reactive incident-based policing to an integrated community-centred model” – one that is better suited to the community's evolving needs with programs like the Mental Health Engagement Response Team.

And that's not to mention their innovations at Venture 13 such as the Police Tech Accelerator.

“Thank you for your commitment to service. It has been an honour working alongside you,” Bureau stated.

The other board members offered their own congratulations.

Vice-chair Sean Graham said that, like former chair Ron Kerr, he had butted heads with the chief occasionally - “but always for a good reason, and I have always had the greatest respect for you. This police service is better off now than when you picked it up.”

VandeGraaf closed the meeting with further remarks that clarified the timing of his departure.

“As I told my staff today, it's six months away, so tomorrow we get back to work. We have work to do, we have challenges to overcome, and our team will continue to proceed and I will be at the helm. This is a few months away,” he said.

“Thank you very much for all the comments. I truly appreciate that. I feel overwhelmed by that. Most importantly, all those accolades? I don't deserve any of them. It's the team.”

With that, Bureau declared there would be no closed session, and the 16-minute meeting was adjourned.

The six-month window means Chief VandeGraaf will be around to continue his efforts to have the service's 2026 budget approved with its 20.5% increase, which he insists has no further discretionary room to cut.

A statement released after the meeting pegged his retirement time frame to June 2026, and listed career milestones. He began his policing career in 1991 in Belleville, came to the Cobourg Police Service in 2014 as Deputy Chief, and was sworn in as Cobourg's13th Chief of Police in 2019.