Oak Bay's new police chief pledges harmony
Times Colonist, April 22, 2014
Fending off barbs about a revolving door in the chief’s office and the never-ending debate about police amalgamation, Oak Bay’s new police chief marked his first day on the job Tuesday, promising co-operation with Greater Victoria’s six other police departments.
Andrew Brinton, a 51-year-old veteran Mountie, was sworn in by Mayor Nils Jensen at Oak Bay municipal hall.
“Andy’s approach to community policing fits well with our philosophy in Oak Bay,” Jensen said.
Oak Bay police Sgt. Ray Maxwell, the master of ceremonies, opened things up with a quip that some have come to call the office of the chief constable “the office of the temp employee,” touching on the two top cops who have come and gone since long-time chief Ron Gaudet retired in 2011.
Former Oak Bay police chief staff sergeant Mark Fisher, a long-time Mountie, stepped down in March after just 2 1/2 years to head up the Nanaimo RCMP. Before that, former Saanich police chief Derek Egan served as interim chief for six months.
Brinton, who signed a five-year contract, said he’s in it for the long term, noting he and his wife are “making a life for ourselves here in Oak Bay.”
In introducing fellow senior leaders from other police departments, Maxwell mentioned Victoria police deputy chief Del Manak, then joked: “I saw a glint in his eye, thinking ‘This will make a great deputy chief’s office when we amalgamate.’ ”
Brinton said he knows he’s stepping into a contentious debate about police politics in Greater Victoria, which has seven police departments for a population of just over 350,000.
“From what I can see so far, the Oak Bay Police Department is providing exceptional service to this area. I think it’s also important to realize that crime doesn’t have borders,” he said. “I think the work with the integrated units in the Greater Victoria area are helping to meet that. The sharing of information and intelligence between neighbouring departments is huge.”
The Victoria and Saanich police departments also have new chiefs — Frank Elsner and Bob Downie both started at the beginning of the year — a development Jensen said signals a chance for better relationships among top police brass in the region.
Brinton said he wants to continue the successful recruitment efforts started by Fisher in an attempt to attract people to the 24-officer department.
He also stressed the importance of working with social agencies and health-care workers in dealing with people with mental illness, an increasing challenge for police across the country.
“In the police world in general, we’re seeing more and more response to mental health situations. I can say in my 32 years’ service, that really if you boil a lot of these situations down to the root cause, you’re going to find mental illness and you’re going to find addiction. To me, we can bandage it or we can get to the core response to it, which means involving people from the health industry and other service providers.”
Brinton has been a Mountie for 32 years, serving as detachment commander with Powell River RCMP for the past five years. He has also been a watch commander in Parksville and headed the West Coast Marine Detachment.
He moved to Greater Victoria with his wife. He has two grown sons, one attending the University of Victoria and one at the University of Toronto.
[email protected]
© Copyright Times Colonist
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/oak-bay-s-new-police-chief-pledges-harmony-1.980677#sthash.fyJLRBWb.dpuf
Times Colonist, April 22, 2014
Fending off barbs about a revolving door in the chief’s office and the never-ending debate about police amalgamation, Oak Bay’s new police chief marked his first day on the job Tuesday, promising co-operation with Greater Victoria’s six other police departments.
Andrew Brinton, a 51-year-old veteran Mountie, was sworn in by Mayor Nils Jensen at Oak Bay municipal hall.
“Andy’s approach to community policing fits well with our philosophy in Oak Bay,” Jensen said.
Oak Bay police Sgt. Ray Maxwell, the master of ceremonies, opened things up with a quip that some have come to call the office of the chief constable “the office of the temp employee,” touching on the two top cops who have come and gone since long-time chief Ron Gaudet retired in 2011.
Former Oak Bay police chief staff sergeant Mark Fisher, a long-time Mountie, stepped down in March after just 2 1/2 years to head up the Nanaimo RCMP. Before that, former Saanich police chief Derek Egan served as interim chief for six months.
Brinton, who signed a five-year contract, said he’s in it for the long term, noting he and his wife are “making a life for ourselves here in Oak Bay.”
In introducing fellow senior leaders from other police departments, Maxwell mentioned Victoria police deputy chief Del Manak, then joked: “I saw a glint in his eye, thinking ‘This will make a great deputy chief’s office when we amalgamate.’ ”
Brinton said he knows he’s stepping into a contentious debate about police politics in Greater Victoria, which has seven police departments for a population of just over 350,000.
“From what I can see so far, the Oak Bay Police Department is providing exceptional service to this area. I think it’s also important to realize that crime doesn’t have borders,” he said. “I think the work with the integrated units in the Greater Victoria area are helping to meet that. The sharing of information and intelligence between neighbouring departments is huge.”
The Victoria and Saanich police departments also have new chiefs — Frank Elsner and Bob Downie both started at the beginning of the year — a development Jensen said signals a chance for better relationships among top police brass in the region.
Brinton said he wants to continue the successful recruitment efforts started by Fisher in an attempt to attract people to the 24-officer department.
He also stressed the importance of working with social agencies and health-care workers in dealing with people with mental illness, an increasing challenge for police across the country.
“In the police world in general, we’re seeing more and more response to mental health situations. I can say in my 32 years’ service, that really if you boil a lot of these situations down to the root cause, you’re going to find mental illness and you’re going to find addiction. To me, we can bandage it or we can get to the core response to it, which means involving people from the health industry and other service providers.”
Brinton has been a Mountie for 32 years, serving as detachment commander with Powell River RCMP for the past five years. He has also been a watch commander in Parksville and headed the West Coast Marine Detachment.
He moved to Greater Victoria with his wife. He has two grown sons, one attending the University of Victoria and one at the University of Toronto.
[email protected]
© Copyright Times Colonist
- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/oak-bay-s-new-police-chief-pledges-harmony-1.980677#sthash.fyJLRBWb.dpuf