Chief Jim Cessford shared a few insights into his 20 years at the helm of Delta's police department, along with some tidbits from his early days in Edmonton, at Tuesday's Ladner Rotary Club luncheon.
Cessford, who retires on Monday, Feb. 2 after 47 years in uniform, told the crowd of about 50 that police officers are always running into humbling experiences.
"You can go from hero to zero in just a couple minutes," he said.
Cessford shared a story from his days as a young police officer in the Alberta capital. He said he had just arrested a suspected car thief and put him in the back of his squad car, unhandcuffed. At that time, he said, police cars did not have a partition separating the front and back seats.
As he was speaking to the suspect, Cessford said he heard a call over the radio about a break and enter in progress at his location. As the call was coming in, he saw two men run out the back door of a business.
"They're hightailing it down the back lane," he said. "So I didn't even think, I just went."
As he was running full speed down the alley, he heard a noise behind him. Cessford said he turned to see the car thief driving his police car down the back lane.
"I just remember thinking, 'I hope he stops.'"
After more than 25 years with the Edmonton Police Department, which saw him rise through the ranks to become superintendent, Cessford left Edmonton for Delta in 1995 with his wife and three young children, who were 5, 7 and 9 at the time.
He said it was an emotional day when the family left Edmonton.
It was Dec. 27, 1994 and it was -27 degrees and snowing hard when the family left the city.
"It was just horrible and the kids and my wife cried all the way from Edmonton to Hope," he said. "And as we passed through Hope and got into the valley the sun was shining, the sky was blue and we've never looked back since."
When Cessford started in 1995, he was asked to sign a 10-year contract, but would only agree to five.
"It's been 20 (years) because this community has been so supportive and they've bee so good to me and my family, and they've been so good to the police department. It's been absolutely incredible and I've really enjoyed my run here but it's time for me to go."
It hasn't always been easy, however. Within the first two years, Cessford said, he had to fire three inspectors.
"We pulled together a really good, strong management team and we did a great job with this department."
There have been a number tragic events the department has investigated - the murders of Manjit Panghali and Laura Szendrei, the crash that claimed four-year-old Alexa Middelaer and, more recently, the fatal
Thanksgiving collision on Highway 10 that killed two Surrey teens.
Cessford responded to the scene that night and took on the responsibility of notifying the parents.
He said he has seen the department go through many changes over the last two decades. When he arrived, he rebuffed the idea of having a computer on his desk, but soon relented and is now constantly tied to his Blackberry.
The department built the North Delta Public Safety Building, started policing Tsawwassen First Nation and established, and expanded, its training section.
"We're probably one of the best equipped police departments in Canada," he said. "When I came here we had two-by-fours holding up the front seats of our police vehicles. The vehicles were in horrible condition," he said. "We turned that around. Our fleet is probably one of the best in Canada."
The department has grown and now has more than 170 officers and a budget of $32 million, almost three times what it was in 1995.
After more than four decades in policing, Cessford said he is looking forward to the next phase of his life. He's planning on completing his master's degree in leadership and communication, getting more active and wants to keep his hand in public safety.
He also said he will be involved with the committee that will choose his successor.
Cessford praised the Ladner Rotary Club for its work in the community and support of the department over the years.
"You do a tremendous job," he said. "I can't thank you enough for that. You've always had our back."
The club, in turn, honoured Cessford with an honorary Rotary membership.
