Jeff DeRuyter says he’s had a lot of time to look back on his 35 years as a police officer in Guelph.
In fact, the outgoing police chief believes people are actually getting tired of him using the word “reflection” ever since he started contemplating his retirement and ultimately announced it in September.
“Certainly a lot of time for reflection,” DeRuyter said in an interview on Monday, his last official day in office.
DeRuyter was named chief in 2015, taking over for Bryan Larkin who was appointed chief of Waterloo police.
Former RCMP superintendent and Guelph resident Gordon Cobey will assume the role on March 1 and in the meantime, deputy police Chief Paul Martin will be in charge.
DeRuyter started his policing career in the 1980s and has had a front-row seat to a growing city.
“It’s that much busier,” he said. “I think of the challenges that our men and women face, both on the police and the civilian end.”
“Day in and day out, I see how they respond and I am so pleased and impressed with the excellent work that they do.”
DeRuyter pointed to mental health, substance use and homelessness as challenges they are seeing more in recent years.
He oversaw the establishment of the Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team (IMPACT) and their partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
“It’s been great for our members and our community, and the work with CMHA, and to have mental-health professionals that are embedded in our organization,” DeRuyter said.
Despite those challenges Guelph still faces, DeRuyter knows that the city is in good hands, but he said it will take collaboration from many agencies and a willingness to find improvements.
It’ll also be in the hands of a new police chief.
DeRuyter said his advice to chief-designate Cobey is to rely on the men and women within Guelph police as he transitions from the Mounties to a municipal police service.
“There are many challenges, but his skills will take him through it, but really relying on the men and women here. You can’t learn it all in day,” DeRuyter said, noting Cobey’s leadership could offer up a fresh look at things.
“A fresh perspective in terms of how we do it, what we do, and to see if there’s opportunities to change things and I think that’s healthy for an organization.”
Looking back on his time as police chief, DeRuyter said one highlight that sticks out was when Guelph hosted the 2016 Special Olympics Ontario Spring Games.
The police partnered with the city and the University of Guelph to organize the event.
“As a community, we had a chance to gather and to really celebrate the amazing athletes that came into our community and live in our community,” DeRuyter said.
He said his retirement will involve hobbies and activities he hasn’t had a chance to do, but he plans on doing some volunteer work, spending time with family and travelling.
But DeRuyter said Guelph will always be home.
“I love the community, we have an outstanding community, so I will certainly be around in my favourite spots.”