There were plenty of tears, lots of laughs and the sharing of memories at the Centre Thursday as members of the Dryden Police Service gathered for one last time.
A celebration ceremony was held for civilian and uniformed officers, staff, jail guards and others involved with the service past and present.
Sergeant Kevin Hildebrand says it was an emotional day.
“Mixed emotions. Sad to see the service shutter its doors. But the overwhelming support that we received coming here was fantastic to see. The kids from Open Roads and the Fire Department sending us off this way is truly emotional,” says Hildebrand.
Staff and students from the Dryden school greeted officers as they entered the Centre with many holding signs thanking them for their service.
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Detective Sergeant Janet Kaus says, “The community support through this whole police costing has been overwhelming and I just want to thank the citizens of Dryden for the support we’ve had throughout our career. The support was there right until the very end and we appreciate all of that from the community.”
Sergeant Robert Wright says the police costing study took a toll on everyone.
“It’s been very rough on all of our members. Emotional roller coaster. But as a Sergeant I am happy to see that everyone remained professional. Continued doing their duties right to the very end. Right up until 6:00 this morning (Thursday), our officers continued to do their jobs,” says Wright.
The three officers also commented on what they will miss the most about the Dryden Police Service.
Robert Wright stated, “Working with the Dryden Police, it’s like one huge big family. Quite a family atmosphere here. We are all very close.”
Janet Kaus echoed his statement.
“We are a family and I just hope that we can stay in touch. We are going to go our separate ways but we’re still connected. We’re Dryden Police Service members and I just hope that our family can stay together,” says Kaus.
Kevin Hildebrand added, “I’m going to miss the comradery of the men and women who served. Coming to work each morning and seeing all the ladies and all the men who served. It is truly what I will miss the most. We were all kind of bonded by this big family that we have.”
Shayne MacKinnon was Police Chief from 2001-2011.
MacKinnon says, “You know it’s a long heritage of protection and concern for the community and for many of us, like myself, I grew up here. Not only as a child but certainly through my vocation in policing. So it is a tough day but certainly one that we will look back on and say that this day was a celebration of the Dryden Police Service and what they did for the community for the last 100 years.”
He adds, “For a small town the philosophy is that you should protect the community as though it was your own home and protect the people in the community as though they were your family. Because at the end of the day, they are your family.”
MacKinnon states, “I think this day is bitter-sweet. Certainly it’s a sad day for all those who supported the Dryden Police Service and like to see policing in a small community. But in the same token I am very happy to see that most of the employees of the Police Service will be moving on to other jobs and most of them in enforcement in the region.”
Twelve officers are moving to the OPP, while others have accepted jobs with Treaty 3 Police and Nishnawbe Aski Police.
There was also one retirement.
