Editorial – These times, they are a changing, or are they?
With the recent breaking news that Cobourg Police Chief Kai Liu is retiring, it’s time to look forward.
Even though the release states the Chief is retiring – he’s not. Retiring means leaves ones job and cease to work. That isn’t happening. He’s moving on to a bigger service. In fact, we’re not sure why, but the release proudly states the new service for the Chief is three times larger than Cobourg’s.
Chair of the Cobourg Police Services Board Dean Pepper said, “on behalf of the Board I want to express our unanimous appreciation to Chief Liu’s unwavering dedication to the safety and security of our community.”
Today’s Northumberland would like to wish Chief Liu all the best in his future career.
In another shocker by the Police Services Board they have promoted Deputy Chief Paul VandeGraaf to the position of Chief starting July 26, 2019.
At a time when members of the community including officers have come forward to voice their opinions on the management of the service, wouldn’t it would have been wiser, to open up the position and see who applies? If the (now former) Deputy Chief got the position through the application process it would at least give the perception the Board members are hearing what members of the public has been saying for months or longer.
To do it this way implies that everything is going along smoothly at the Service. It’s no secret that they aren’t. Many police officers are off, for illnesses including stress and PTSD. Many are on modified duties. So much so they are looking at hiring part-time police officers. Has the Board looked into finding out if there is a common factor?
Have the Board members including Cobourg Mayor John Henderson and Councillor Aaron Burchat read and listened to what the public is saying on social media, and in e-mails about the service?
With any business organization that has a number of employees, it’s fair to say you’re going to have various personalities – the good, the bad, the ugly. But it’s up to the Board to listen to members of the public. Not judge them, just listen to them and their comments.
The Deputy who is now Chief made comments in the past few weeks that have certainly raised more attention than likely he had intended and certainly for the wrong reasons.
Today’s Northumberland broke the story about a federal offender who had a Canada wide warrant. A release put out on Monday stated police were concerned for his “well being.”
Cobourg Police finally issued a release on Thursday informing the citizens the individual was indeed wanted on a Canada wide warrant.
In a story by Northumberland News, the Deputy is quoted as stating, “He is not a dangerous offender by definition — that is a very restrictive class for people like (Paul) Bernardo, who are dangerous offenders.”
Anyone would hope if he was anywhere near the status of Bernardo, he wouldn’t see the light of day in his lifetime.
But we’re not sure what message the Deputy was trying to convey?
Could the person wanted on a Canada wide warrant be a danger or not?
The question was never really answered by the incoming Designate Chief.
Today’s Northumberland spoke with a member of the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement who stated, “with all of our offenders that are unlawfully at large, there (is) always an element of risk.”
The man was incarcerated for 17-years and within the first few hours of being released, he disappeared.
It’s certainly a valid question to ask if he is a danger, but throwing the name Bernardo into the story certainly grabbed the attention of many in the community for the wrong reasons.
Previously Today’s Northumberland requested a comment from Cobourg Mayor John Henderson regarding a social media post by a Cobourg officer who was concerned about the lack of Cobourg officers working for a day shift stating it is insanity in policing.
The Mayor, who is a member of the Police Services Board first indicated that Dean Pepper is Chair and spokesperson for the board.
After sending another e-mail to the Mayor asking if he could comment as Mayor he stated, “ It is the Chief who deals with operational issues. As mayor this is not within my domain nor any other Board member. Thus I am not able to comment.”
And once again referred to the Chair of the Board.
A community which is below the standard of officers on general patrol is concerning for everyone who lives and visits Cobourg. Asking the Mayor of that community for comment is not out of the question.
If it’s happened more than once, which a number of sources inside the service have indicated to Today’s Northumberland that it has in the past year, then it gets very concerning.
As spokesperson for Cobourg, the Mayor should spoken publicly simply stating, like many others, that it is a concern.
The social media post from the officer certainly drew the attention and ire of the community the police service were short staffed.
A press release issued by the Cobourg Police on July 7, 2019 stated, “The police service shifts and roster (number of employees, overtime worked, etc.) are confidential and Human Resources related. When an employee publishes this information, it is taken seriously by the Cobourg Police Services Board and Cobourg police.”
Police announced an investigation is underway about the officers comments.
Today’s Northumberland asked former Chief Liu if the service had been down to two officers previously this year. He cited confidentiality reasons for not releasing the information.
But in another surprise, during an interview with Global Television the Deputy Chief stated, “our average compliment on an everyday shift is three and night shift is three. Unfortunately on this weekend we fell down to two on that particular day.”
VandeGraaf continues on, “from the day to day policing, three would have been better than two.”
But isn’t that also releasing confidential information?
It goes exactly against what the press release stated about police service shifts being confidential.
Is there an investigation into that? Or can a senior officer release that information?
As the press release states by the Cobourg Police, “when an employee publishes (confidential) information, it is taken seriously by the Cobourg Police Services Board and Cobourg police.”
Does the same apply for the now current police chief of releasing confidential information?
When the Chair of the Cobourg Police Services Board admitted he doesn’t follow Facebook at the last Police Services Board meeting it left a few puzzled.
The Cobourg Police Service is a multimillion dollar service with the Town of Cobourg.
The police service itself has Facebook, and Twitter among other forms of social media to keep the public updated.
Even the former police chief and current police chief have Twitter accounts.
A Chair of a state-of-the-art police service who admits he does not follow Facebook, may not fully understand what the community thinks of the Board, senior management or the officers who patrol the streets of Cobourg.
The Police Service Board might also think of having their monthly meetings which are open to the public in a different venue. The second floor of Venture 13 where millions of dollars worth of criminal record checks are done for businesses is very secure for obvious reasons.
At the last meeting several members of the public were in eye-sight of at least one computer where a woman was working. At the end of the meeting the public was escorted from the building by the former Chief stating it was a secure facility.
We have a new Police Chief, some would say that’s good, while others may not agree.
The Police Services Board has to move up with the times and maybe go over their policies, which state in-part, that, the five members of the board provide governance to the Cobourg Police Service, “while ensuring adequate and effective police services are delivered in accordance with legislative requirements and the needs of the communities we serve.”
“The needs of the communities we serve,” being the key words.
Let’s hope the future of the service will be more focused on fighting crime along with the health and safety of both the officers and citizens.
Time will tell.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
