(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf is having a retirement party on Wednesday at the Best Western Inn and Convention Centre from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., but the vast majority of people won’t be going.
It’s invitation only. And could likely be at the taxpayers expense.
There are only a few days remaining before the tenure of Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf officially comes to an end.
For many residents, his time leading the Cobourg Police Service can best be summed up by the title of the classic Clint Eastwood film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
In the beginning, there was optimism.
When VandeGraaf arrived in Cobourg in 2014, there was hope that a new era was beginning for the service. By the time he became chief in 2019, expectations were even higher. Residents expected leadership, professionalism, accountability and, most importantly, transparency.
At first, there were positive signs. Communication appeared stronger, relationships with the media were workable and there seemed to be an understanding that the public had a right to know what was happening in their community.
But over time, that relationship deteriorated.
Today’s Northumberland will be the first to admit there were times when frustration became visible. It grows when questions go unanswered, when information that should be public is withheld and when a police service increasingly appears more interested in controlling information than communicating with the people it serves.
That breakdown in communication widened the divide between the police service and sections of the community it was supposed to serve.
Now, as VandeGraaf prepares to retire, another issue has emerged.
The chief is having a retirement party at the Best Western Inn and Convention Centre.
A number of questions were sent to Chair of the Police Services Board Adam Bureau
Bureau did answer some questions, but the big question – who is paying for the event was left out.
The Cobourg Police Services Board is essentially the boss of the Chief. The Board doesn’t get into operational issues, but it’s safe to say the Chief reports to Board.
Bureau stated that the Chief was responsible for who received the invitations.
Which makes it shocking to learn that one member of the Board wasn’t invited. That’s right – the Chief reports to the Board and one Board member wasn’t invited to a party that the taxpayers may have funded.
Bureau also didn’t answer the questions of how many were invited and if a dinner is included.
If it’s just a meet and greet it would be interesting to know why the Chief just didn’t have an open house for members of the public to bid adieu.
They are the ones who actually pay the Chief’s salary.
Years ago, the Town of Cobourg scaled back and eventually eliminated Christmas dinners for retired employees because of concerns over cost. Those events were always held at Victoria Hall in an effort to reduce expenses before ultimately disappearing altogether.
So residents are justified in asking why a formal retirement event is being held now and whether taxpayer dollars are involved.
Perhaps there are perfectly reasonable explanations.
Maybe the event is privately funded.
But because communication from the service has become so limited, even straightforward questions now generate suspicion and uncertainty.
That in itself says something.
Chief VandeGraaf spent approximately 12 years with the municipality and police service. Many long-serving municipal employees leave quietly after decades of service without receiving a formal public sendoff.
Whether this event is appropriate is ultimately a matter of opinion.
What should not be controversial, however, is answering questions about it.
Transparency should not disappear simply because the topic is uncomfortable.
For years, the Cobourg Police Service has emphasized the importance of community trust. Trust is built through openness, accountability and communication — especially during difficult moments.
Unfortunately, many residents and members of the media believe those qualities diminished significantly during the latter part of VandeGraaf’s tenure.
That is regrettable because it did not have to end this way.
Beginning June 1, the Cobourg Police Service will move forward under new leadership.
The next chief will inherit not only the responsibilities of running the service, but also the challenge of rebuilding trust with portions of the community and local media.
Even up to the end, residents and media are still fighting for basic information.
Media outlets should not feel stonewalled for asking legitimate questions.
Public safety information should never become optional. Hopefully the new Chief understands.
As VandeGraaf prepares to leave office, the legacy of his tenure will ultimately be decided not by retirement dinners, speeches or plaques, but by how the public remembers the relationship between the police service and the community during his leadership.
For many residents, that relationship began with promise.
Whether it ended successfully is a far more difficult question.
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
