When retiring North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine was offered the position of Executive Director of the Ontario Police Technology Information Co-operative last October he initially turned down the role.
Devine told the co-op at the time he wasn’t interested.
The co-op approached him again in December and this time he let his name stand for the position and was selected following an interview.
Although working for OPTIC means some travel, Devine says he’ll also be able to work from home meaning the Devine family doesn’t have to leave North Bay.
Devine says he initially thought he might spend a couple more years as Police Chief but as he told the media on Tuesday following the regular meeting of the police board. “the opportunity was there”.
Devine’s official last day of work with the North Bay police will be June 30th.
However, he will have left the building before that date because he has vacation time to use up.
Devine has been a police officer for 31 years, serving his entire career in North Bay.
He considers himself fortunate to have been able to do all that he did during his three-plus decades as a law enforcement officer including travelling to Sussex England to do a month of police work and working with the RCMP.
When Devine leaves his post he readily admits he’ll miss the people he’s worked with and met over the years.
“Over 31 years you develop some very strong friendships, your kids grow up together, that’s the part I’ll miss,” Devine said.
Devine does wish he didn’t have to leave unsolved cases behind like the Luc Joly missing person’s matter.
The case of the mysterious disappearance of Joly remains open and officers remained assigned to it.
Devine wasn’t personally involved in the Joly investigation but when he served seven years in the criminal investigation branch he did run into cases he wasn’t able to solve.
Devine says his solve rate was pretty good, “but some of those (unsolved) cases, yeah they linger in the back of your mind.”
On his successor, Devine expects Scott Tod to continue to do “what he has as a Deputy Chief in a very calm manner and friendly approach”.
“To be honest, I don’t think you’re going to see very much change in style, said the retiring chief.
“I think I may talk a little more than Scott but I don’t think our styles (our different) that much.”
Tod is a former Deputy Commissioner with the OPP and took over as the city’s Deputy Chief in January of 2016.
On his abilities, Devine says Tod has a “very polished, well-spoken and well-thought-out approach to policing.”
Tod was no less gracious with his thoughts on Devine.
“(Shawn Devine) is one of the finest leaders I’ve ever worked with and I’ve worked with many not only across Canada but in many other nations around the world,” Tod said.
“He is a true community leader and I’ve learned the value of having community contributions from the Chief’s office.”
Tod is a believer in participatory management where input comes not only from members of the police service but also the public.
So it’s with that philosophy that Tod says that a police chief doesn’t always lead because there are times when the chief should follow.
“Members in the (police) service have great ideas and great concepts and you recognize there’s a time to lead and a time to follow,” Tod said.
Meanwhile, as Devine’s time as a police officer nears an end, it’s not the true end of the line for the Devine family to have someone in law enforcement.
Devine says on December 17th when he was going through his interview with the co-op for the executive director position, that same day his son started working with the Toronto police.
“So it’s interesting, I’m finishing and he’s starting a career in law enforcement,” Devine said.