By Taylor MacPherson

City not rushing to replace Troy Cooper: Mayor

Jan 17, 2018 | 4:46 PM

Prince Albert’s departing Police Chief Troy Cooper is leaving big shoes to fill, and choosing his replacement will likely be a difficult process.

That was the message Mayor Greg Dionne shared at a City Hall press conference announcing Cooper’s departure this afternoon. Cooper is taking over the top job in Saskatoon from retiring Chief Clive Weighill, who held the post for 11 years.

Dionne said the city’s Board of Police Commissioners will take their time choosing the right candidate to replace Cooper, who the mayor affectionately referred to as “the little boy from Big River.” The board first learned of the move Monday, he said, so it’s important not to rush the decision.

“We are going to put a hiring committee together,” Dionne said. “As we move along, I’ll announce more about the process.”

Dionne said the police commissioners will assemble a diverse hiring committee which represents as many stakeholders as possible. The city has already reached out to the Prince Albert Grand Council to appoint a committee member, Dionne said, emphasizing the importance of input from the Indigenous community. The search will not be limited to internal candidates, he added, and the board will advertise the position.

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While choosing a permanent replacement, Dionne said the board will appoint an interim chief. The mayor said Deputy Police Chief Jeff Rowden would be his “natural choice,” but no firm decisions have yet been made. Cooper’s last day at work will be Feb. 16, Dionne noted, so the board has nearly a full month to decide.

Many will be sad to see Cooper leave, Dionne said, but the move clearly demonstrates the value of a career with the Prince Albert Police Service.

“This is a proud day for the City of Prince Albert,” Dionne said. “He started out as a constable, he ended up as the chief here, and now think of it – he’s the chief of the largest municipal force in our province.”

Cooper said the decision was not an easy one to make. After careful consideration and support from his family, however, Cooper said he knew the choice was the right one.

“I have truly enjoyed my experience as chief of police here,” he said, “but I felt it was time for me to take on a larger role in the province.”

Cooper said his experience policing Prince Albert has left him well-positioned for the transition to Saskatoon, where the city experiences many of the same challenges. The increasing use of crystal meth and other addictive drugs is being felt across the entire province, he said, with many of the same effects resulting.

Asked what his advice for the city’s next chief is, Cooper said his replacement must be willing to adapt, and not get stuck in tradition. New policing models are emerging every day, he said, and change must be embraced in order to police the city successfully.

“It’s a challenging time in policing,” Cooper said. “The next chief has to be open minded and willing to change.”

Despite the challenges his successor will undoubtedly face, Cooper said they will have an excellent and well-respected police force behind them.

“Whoever is selected to lead next will inherit a great organization filled with dedicated, professional staff who actually care,” he said.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TaylorMacP