Opinion – New Dawn and Brighter Future for the Cobourg Police Services Board

Pete Fisher
15 hours ago
• Categories: Editorial

A new dawn has taken place with a new Chair and Vice-Chair for the Cobourg Police Services Board being voted in on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Cobourg Town Councillor Adam Bureau was voted in as Chair on Tuesday morning.  Board member Sean Graham was voted in as Vice-Chair.

The Election of Officers was the first order of business at the meeting held in Council Chambers of Victoria Hall.

Whether the Board wants to admit it or not, there have been many problems that exist within the Board and more importantly, the Cobourg Police Service.

Bureau who had held the position as Vice-Chair was voted in by Board members (Deputy Mayor) Nicole Beatty and Sean Graham.

Two members who abstained from voting were former Chair Ron Kerr and former Vice-Chair Dean Pepper.

Change comes at a hard price sometimes. Unfortunately some can’t accept it was grace and dignity.

The future looks bright for the Cobourg Police Services Board now that the old guard is gone.

Transparency from the Board has been missing for a long time. Questions the public should know about go unanswered.

But with the end of the reign of Kerr it looks like a new horizon for the Board.

Realistically only time will tell.

Bureau has been on Cobourg Council since 2018 and on the Cobourg Police Services Board since 2022.

Operating a business in downtown Cobourg, Bureau has a pulse on the community.

More importantly – he knows the people of this town.

Sees them everyday.

He understands the need for transparency.

Today’s Northumberland is confident the change is for the better of the Cobourg Police Services Board and in doing so, will be better for the police services and the community they serve.

Congratulations to Chair Bureau and Vice-Chair Graham.

 

 

Below is the acceptance speech after Bureau was voted in as Chair.
Good morning, everyone.

I am truly honored to stand before you today as the new Chair of the Cobourg Police Service Board.

It is with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to serving our community that I take on this role.

In doing so, I would also like to congratulate shawn (whatever his last name is)…. on his new role as Vice-Chair.

As Chair of the Cobourg Police Services Board, I am eager to continue the important work of ensuring that our police service remains effective, accountable, and responsive to the needs of all citizens in Cobourg.

My heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Ron Kerr who has not only been an exceptional leader, but his dedication, wisdom, and vision have set a high standard for all of us serving on the Cobourg Police Services Board.

Under his leadership, our police service has made great strides in community engagement, transparency, and fostering a culture of trust between the police and the public.

Your contributions have been invaluable, and we are all deeply grateful for your service and guidance.

Stepping into this new role, I am mindful of the importance of collaboration and open communication.

As Chair, I look forward to working closely with my fellow board members, our Chief of Police, and the entire police service to build upon the strong foundation that has been laid before us.

Together, we will continue to ensure that Cobourg remains a safe, welcoming, and vibrant community for all.

Once again, thank you ,Dr. Ron Kerr, for your leadership, and thank you to everyone for your trust and support as we move forward together.