After 7 years of serving Cobourg, Police Chief Kai Liu is retiring.
Having just completed a lengthy selection process that spanned several months, Cobourg’s Chief of Police, Kai Liu announced to the Cobourg Police Services Board (CBSD) his retirement from the Service.
Chief Liu’s retirement is effective September 1st when he takes on his new appointment as Chief of Police for another police service three times larger than Cobourg’s.
Chief Liu leaves a long impressive list of accomplishments, including presenting 7 police budgets, reducing the police portion of the town’s total annual budget, placed the service on the forefront of tiered policing with increased use of non-sworn members.
And with funding from the Ministry of Children and Youth Service, he implemented the region’s only year-round youth employment program called ‘Youth in Policing Initiative’, employing over 70 Northumberland students since its inception.
In 2012, inherited an auxiliary officer program with two officers and today the service has 19 auxiliary officers who collectively volunteer thousands of community service hours.
He has also helped position the Corporate Services Unit in the very envious position as one of Canada’s largest third-party criminal records check supplier.
And using revenue generated by Corporate Services, the CPS Board invested $2 million dollars into building Venture 13, Cobourg’s first business incubator and innovation centre.
He has also helped remove the stigma associated with mental health in the workplace by encouraging and supporting officers to seek assistance with their mental health when required. The number of officers at CPS seeking help is a testament of this support.
He says, “It has been an honour and privilege to lead the members and serve this community the last seven years. I am most proud of our members who, regardless of the challenges faced the shift before, returned the next day determined to make a positive difference in the Town of Cobourg and the people they meet.
“Under the new leadership I am confident our members will be well-supported and will continue to proudly serve our community. The Cobourg Police Service has a very bright future and its members are in great hands.
“Though it is sad to say goodbye, I am ready to begin the next chapter in my career,” Chief Liu expresses his thoughts on leaving the Cobourg Police Service.
Legislated by section 31(4) of the Police Services Act, the Cobourg Police Services Board is responsible to recruit and appoint the chief of police.
On behalf of the Cobourg Police Services Board, they are proud to announce that Deputy Chief Paul VandeGraaf will become Chief Designate of the Cobourg Police Service effective July 26th.
He will serve in this role until he is sworn in as the 13th Chief of Police in the 159-year history of the Cobourg Police Service. The traditional change in command ceremony will take place at a later date.
Paul has proven over time that he has a clear understanding of CPS’s vision and approaches every situation with the service’s mission in mind.
Chief of Police Designate VandeGraaf’s experience in policing extends over 28 years and has steadily and successfully progressed from various leadership roles to the position of Deputy Chief of the Cobourg Police Service.
After leaving the Belleville Police Service as their Deputy Chief, he has become very ingrained in the Cobourg community. He has successfully worked with Chief Liu and the Cobourg Police Services Board in all areas. He’s been a key player in strategic planning, budgeting, and revolutionizing the service that has provided a far more community-focused delivery that is both highly economical and abundantly effective.
Chief of Police Designate VandeGraaf remains a very active member of the Cobourg community including being a member of the DBIA, the Board of Directors for the YMCA, Cobourg Rotary Club and alongside his wife Cathy, past campaign chairs for the YMCA Strong Communities Campaign.
VandeGraaf says, “I am eager and excited to support the vision and bringing it to life in everything we do. The energy and collaboration from all members and volunteers of the Cobourg Police Service and Cobourg Police Services Board will be key to ensuring we continue to provide responsive, innovative and quality policing services. I look forward to continually demonstrating to our community the great work that comes out of this service.”