Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper announced his retirement in October and with boxes being packed, it is now starting to sink in. His final official day on the books is January 16th, but with holiday time his actual last day is Friday.

Cooper says he began his policing career in Prince Albert and was there for 31 years, including six as its Chief and then he moved to become Chief in Saskatoon in January of 2018. There have been a lot of changes in policing in that 37 years. Cooper says when he started, there was no training before heading out in a police car. He didn’t have a gun, but he purchased his own baton. Cooper suggests it was a lot more regimented and militaristic and now the staff are well trained and educated and the equipment is top notch. As well, the justice system has evolved as well with the inclusion of victims and the voice of victims in how evidence is provided to the court.

In his time as Saskatoon’s Police Chief, Cooper believes one of his biggest accomplishments was implementing more business planning and accountability mechanisms, which helped the Police Service to then improve front line measures. He gives the examples of now having a Body Worn Camera program, a Hate Crimes Unit, an Alternate Measures Unit which diverts people away from justice to where it’s more appropriate and there are Alternate Response Officers in communities where they are needed.

The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners is on the search for a new Chief and in the meantime, Acting Deputy Chief Dave Haye will serve as Interim Chief. He has been a member of the Saskatoon Police Service for 39 years.

Cooper’s advice for the new Chief is to keep one eye on the community and the other on the Police Service and balance the two as best you can. “You know you have to make sure the people who work for you are safe and that they are supported and well trained and have the resources they need, but you have to hear from the community to know what it is they expect of their Police Service – how they want to be served. It’s really a balancing act, but I think it’s important to get that right.”

Chief Troy Cooper’s retirement party is tomorrow (Thurs) from 3 to 5 in the gym at police headquarters.