A packed Peterborough courtroom erupted in applause as Scott Gilbert was sworn in as the city’s next police chief on Wednesday.
Gilbert, 56, will take over from Chief Murray Rodd, who is retiring on July 1, wrapping up a 35-year policing career, with the last decade as Peterborough’s chief.
“The whole thing feels surreal. When I started in 1980 as a new recruit, I remember opening that box of equipment and trying to figure out where it all went. It feels the same way. I’m a new recruit all over again,” said Gilbert.
WATCH ABOVE: Peterborough Police Chief Murray Rodd discusses his retirement plans on The Morning Show on CHEX-TV
The current superintendent of 52 division has spent his entire 38-year policing career with the Toronto Police Service.
“Peterborough is no less busy than Toronto. There are some different issues, but there are similarities. Call volume is one of them. Trying to respond to all of them is just as difficult in Peterborough as it is in Toronto,” added Gilbert.
Gilbert started his career as a cadet and climbed up TPS’ ranks, including roles with the Emergency Task Force, Criminal Investigations Bureau, an inspector in Prosecutive Services and superintendent of several divisions.
He has also served as president of the Toronto Senior Officers Association and a director with the provincial association.
READ MORE: Scott Gilbert appointed next Chief of Peterborough Police Service
“I can read a lot, but it’s not the same as getting out in the community. Talking to people and hearing what they think the issues are,” said Gilbert. “More importantly, how they think the police service is doing in the community and where we can improve. That’s critically important.”
Gilbert is no stranger to Peterborough police, having worked alongside the service recently with crisis-intervention training.
“The division I’m coming from, we have an opioid problem. We have a supervised injection site that opened in the downtown core. Harm reduction is important with serious addictions that we have in both Peterborough and Toronto.”
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