Maybe it’s come to that time that we bid adieu to the Cobourg Police Chief.
Chief Paul VandeGraaf came to the Cobourg Police Service in 2014 where he was sworn in as Deputy Police Chief.
From his first interview VandeGraaf stated he wanted to go higher whether it was in Cobourg or elsewhere and in 2019 he was appointed Chief.
Since his reign of the service there have been many positives that have happened in our community.
Policing has changed drastically with police everywhere.
Drugs, courts and a number of other things haven’t made it easy for any officer whether it’s front line or the Chief.
Today’s Northumberland has always been about accountability.
We strive on it and hold ourselves accountable.
Sometimes people get along, sometimes they don’t – such is life.
People can have different opinions which is perfectly fine.
But you never, ever let the personality get in the way of the profession.
With VandeGraaf it’s apparent this has happened.
There have been questionable changes with some of VandeGraaf’s decisions.
In 2024 it was decided the Command Post that has been in the Victoria Park Campground for several years was taken out.
VandeGraaf said because the service no longer has the Youth in Policing Initiative there was no one to occupy the trailer in the summer.
We got away with it last year, but there will likely be a much larger presence on the beach and in Victoria Park with what is happening south of the border. Fewer Canadians are traveling to the States.
The trailer served more than just for the YIPI students, officers on patrol regularly stopped by, by-law enforcement included.
The stands are still there, but there are no lifeguards.
What happens if someone has a medical episode?
It’s a safe bet during the summer there will be more people on the beach than any parade route in Cobourg. Yet there are always police along the parade route, and there is no doubt there will be police/special constables around the beach and Victoria Park area, but the trailer/Command Post was always a place to know where to go when someone needed help. Time will tell this year if it was the right decision.
Of late press releases have been few and far between with the service.
The Pride event took place in downtown Cobourg on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
While walking along King Street East to the start of the parade in Victoria Park, it was clear to see passing by an alley where a previous suspicious fire was that there had been another.
Mindboggling.
Absolutely nothing has yet to be released on three suspicious fire in the same alley in heritage downtown Cobourg.
Absolutely – nothing.
If there is an investigation ongoing – great.
But that doesn’t take away from protecting and more importantly telling the public what is happening in their community.
Three suspicious fires set in the same alley within a few metres of each other doesn’t warrant a press release it would seem.
But two porta-potties go up in flames and a press release is issued.
Excuse the pun – but that’s crap.
There was a substantial distraction theft from Shoppers in downtown Cobourg on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Port Hope Police received a report on Monday about a distraction theft, possibly involving the same suspects. A release was issued the next day.
It’s been five days since the theft in Cobourg, yet once again, the public goes uninformed.
Cobourg Police are about as transparent as a brick wall. What goes along with transparency is trust.
It’s also become apparent that VandeGraaf may think that it’s his own police service and not the public’s.
Today’s Northumberland has been receiving press releases from police services from Northumberland County and beyond for several years.
We’ve wrote columns on other police services at previous times when we believe it was warranted. Some praising services, some critical.
But never, ever have we ever stopped getting press releases from all services.
But now, for some reason, it appears the Cobourg Police Service is not sending press releases to us.
Is it equivalent to the media penalty box?
Chair of the Police Services Board Adam Bureau stated they have no control over it because it is deemed “operations.”
With all due respect, if VandeGraaf wants to start his own police service we encourage that.
But his salary, which is $199,560 is being paid by the 22,000 people of Cobourg.
If he has an issue with the way we report the news, the best way to work out a problem is communication. Again, don’t let the personality get in the way of the profession.
Initially, VandeGraaf stated he would be looking for a house in Cobourg when he was first hired – that has never come to fruition.
Communications has been an issue with the service has been a problem for a number of months. It’s not getting any better or transparent. Whether VandeGraaf wants to admit it or not.
Last Friday, there was a tragedy in Cobourg. A person was struck and killed by a train. In the first release (stated on the Cobourg Police website) it stated the person was rushed to the hospital where they were pronounced deceased. But in a second release, police updated the information that the person actually was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Not only does the service not give critical information like three suspicious fires and a substantial theft, but after a tragedy, they don’t even get what information they do release right.
How can anyone trust the information being release from the police service?
People have reported to Today’s Northumberland they don’t even bother reporting crimes to the police service.
VandeGraaf has to learn it is called the Cobourg Police Service and he is accountable to the people of this community – whether he likes them or not.
If he doesn’t, maybe it’s time to hop on the horse, or bicycle and ride off into the sunset.
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
