UPDATE: Chief Wilkinson Set to Retire from WPS

Tuesday, 9 September 2025 16:38

The Woodstock Police Service is seeing their Chief retire after nearly 30 years of service.

UPDATE - There is an update to a story we first reported on Tuesday.

The Woodstock Police Service's Board announced that Chief Rod Wilkinson has announced his retirement after nearly 30 years of service. Chief Wilkinson will remain in the role until October 2nd.

It is at that time the Board will determine the next steps regarding the assignment of police chief duties and the appointment of an acting or permanent Chief.

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WOODSTOCK - An extraordinary career is coming to an end with the Woodstock Police Service.

Chief Rod Wilkinson is hanging up the uniform after nearly 30 years of a career centred around public safety, leadership and community service. Chief Wilkinson stared the journey in 1997, which saw him rise through the ranks quickly, as the early years saw him as Detective Constable in the Criminal Investigations Branch. Over the years, Chief Wilkinson held numerous leadership positions, including Uniform Road Supervisor, Staff Sergeant, Inspector of Operations and Deputy Chief of Police. Chief Wilkinson served for 17 years as a dedicated member and Supervisor of the Emergency Response Unit. In this role, he was instrumental in leading tactical operations and managing high-risk incidents.

Chief Wilkinson had this to say about his career.

"Looking back, I am proud of what we have accomplished together. With the support of an excellent and forward-thinking administrative team that continually pushed for innovation and meaningful change, we added many new sworn and civilian positions, enhancing the department’s capacity to
serve our community. We introduced body-worn cameras to increase transparency and accountability, added electric bikes and drones to improve operational flexibility, and upgraded our fleet with new vehicles. We also successfully navigated the complexities of the Community Safety and Policing
Act, strengthening our position and ensuring organizational integrity during a critical time. After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to step away from my professional role permanently to focus on personal priorities. This has been a meaningful chapter in my life, and I’m deeply grateful for the support, friendships, and experiences I’ve had along the way. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey."

The Woodstock Police Service Chair, Ken Whiteford also shared his thoughts.

"Rod deserves a very sincere thanks for his distinguished leadership over the past three years and his career service to WPS. He has displayed integrity, accountability and a fair and consistent approach to policing while enhancing community safety in such a way as to reflect the expectations of the Woodstock Community. May his legacy be the inspiration that he has provided to present and future uniform and civilian WPS staff. The Board wishes him all the best in his retirement."

His dedication to lifelong learning and mentorship has left a lasting impact on the Woodstock Police Service. His strategic planning and operational leadership were instrumental in shaping the current organization’s approach to modern policing.