Chief Cook made the declaration at police headquarters during the North Bay Police Services Board meeting Tuesday.
Mayor Al McDonald said he was shocked at the news. “Chief Cook is a great champion for our community. During his leadership, the community confidence rose to 94% in both North Bay and Callander.”
Cook didn’t mean to give anyone a shock. He wanted to give North Bay Police Services Board a heads up to begin the process of hiring a new police chief.
Looking back, Chief Cook says the world has become more challenging since he was a rookie in 1982, especially with the internet spawning crimes such as cyber bullying and child pornography.
“Now there is terrorism. We certainly did not have the threats to people in uniform like we do now.”
Chief Cook says there have been many positive changes.
“Criminal activity is down to about 20% of the use of police time. The other 80% of the time we are dealing with marginalized people because of government off-loading health and social services.”
Chief Paul Cook with Inspector Kelusky on his left.
Chief Cook added that the police do a more effective job in community mobilization such as when partnering with the eighteen social service organizations that meet twice a week to deal with people who have been identified as acutely elevated at risk.
“We’ve made great strides in partnering with the community. It is also a step in the right direction that the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is talking about a future requirement for municipalities to have Safety and Wellness Plans.”
“Any success we’ve had is because of partnerships established in this community. We wouldn’t be so successful in efforts to stop drinking and driving, if it weren’t for the many volunteers at MADD.”
Chief Cook wishes his replacement, “Well, because our job is becoming more challenging and complicated. But we do have a solid foundation with successful programs that should be grown.”
North Bay Police Services Board Chair Dennis O’Connor says he looks forward to working over the next seven months with Chief Cook until he takes his well–earned retirement. The board will be meeting soon to discuss the hiring process for the new chief.
