1. Were you surprised that you became chief of the DRPS

I was not so much surprised at becoming chief as I was surprised at the timing. I had fully expected Chief Vernon White to stay longer with us, but for all the right reasons Vern had to seize the opportunity in Ottawa. I am confident that with the support of the board and the members of the service, we will stay on track and continually improve our service to the community.

2. Was it always a goal of yours to become chief

I think that everyone enters policing with a goal of making a difference. Some aspire to new ranks and responsibilities. I certainly did hope to assume increasing responsibility but I'm very pragmatic, I know there is only one chief and the odds are significantly stacked against any one person when we have such a talented organization.

3. Did you know from an early age that you wanted to be a police officer

I certainly did. Policing doesn't run in my family, but as a youngster my family had a very positive interaction with the Durham Regional Police Service and since then it has always been the DRPS for me.

4. What is the toughest thing about being a cop

I've been exposed to some pretty horrendous critical incidents involving deaths and dismemberments that have a long-term impact on the psyche and relationships. Fortunately, I have the support of my family and recognize the importance of groups like our Critical Incident Stress Support Team to help us understand and deal with tragedies, once we come off that emotional "autopilot" that allows us to manage the incident itself and get our job done.

5. What gives you the most satisfaction on the job

I like to coach and mentor future leaders and see them develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to take this service even further. The talent in our organization runs deep and it's my job to create an environment in which people feel both responsible and authorized to make real changes in the service. I want to create a service that is based on mutual respect and collegiality, regardless of rank or position. We need to believe we achieve "across" the service, instead of working in a hierarchical "up and down" service.

6. What is the biggest difference between being a constable, say, and being chief

When I took my oath of office for the position of Chief, I did so as Chief Constable. I am a proud constable of this service. I only have a different area of responsibility than others. Front-line officers may have the responsibility to protect their life or the lives of others, Detectives may have the responsibility of taking away a person's freedoms for years. How can I compare or contrast mine to any of theirs, other than to say they are different -- not more important.

7. What is the biggest challenge the DRPS faces in the next few years

I believe our biggest challenge is in understanding that our traditional methods have been highly successful in terms of outputs, but have largely been reactive and are therefore not sustainable in the long term. We have to change our focus to become more proactive -- solving problems, not just addressing symptoms. That means giving our members the responsibility and authority to find solutions in partnership with credible community resources. In the end, the community is better served and we have increased capacity to do more.

8. What do you do to relax

I really enjoy getting out on our motorcycles. My wife rides her own bike and it allows us the opportunity to ride independently, collect our thoughts or clear our heads while we are still together. I also enjoy the outdoors whenever possible, fishing for the sake of being out on the water as opposed to catching a limit.

9. What advice would you have for young people thinking of getting into police college

I strongly encourage post-secondary education first or skilled trades for that matter, not so much for the course content or subject matter, but more so for the process of learning. Police college can come after that. Everyone learns at different rates and develops preferred methods. Understanding your learning strengths and weaknesses provides opportunities to excel no matter what your career choice.

10. What is the biggest misunderstanding members of the public have about police officers

I think most members of the public only see us or interact with us as police officers no matter the situation, on duty or off. Ask anyone who's been to a party, barbecue or community function with a cop if they took advantage of the opportunity to share their most recent experience with an officer or ask something about the law and how we apply it. It's often the case that those same people have no interest in discussing their work issues with us at that same party but they love to talk about our work. We understand and respect that and most of us really enjoy our careers, but sometimes its nice just to talk about anything else other than work. We aren't simply one-dimensional people. Our members are active community volunteers, coaches and parents, but we are always seen as cops first.