Thanks Chief

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Thanks Chief

Tuesday, 18 November 2014 16:19

After 37 years in policing, Woodstock Police Chief Rod Freeman is stepping down.

WOODSTOCK -- Woodstock's Police Chief is enjoying his last day at the office.

After 21 years serving as a Police Chief in Fergus, Orangeville and Woodstock - the longest serving, active Chief in Ontario, Rod Freeman is preparing to enter the world of retirement.

Freeman's first position in policing was in Timmins -- a job he accepted in 1978 at 20 years of age. He spent 3 years there before moving to St Thomas where he served 11 years, then in 1993, became the youngest Police Chief in Ontario at the age of 36 after he accepted a position in Fergus.

For the past 7 years of his career, Freeman has called the Friendly City home where he has held the position of both Deputy Police Chief and Police Chief. "I'm lucky in so much is that I am retiring healthy from a 37 year very, very satisfying career and moving on to something else but I am retiring from a profession that I absolutely love and I am retiring from a Police Service that I absolutely adore and have a lot invested in. This is a good thing, I keep telling my wife this is a good thing and we'll see what the next adventure holds for us."

Freeman says there are two cases he worked on that will stay with him through his life. "One is Victoria Stafford's investigation and the other one was the impaired driving death of Baby Alex. And both of those were very significant occurrences here in our community of Woodstock. But I have got to say that over the 37 years, every investigation, every victim that we've been able to help, every criminal that we've been able to put behind bars all have been very satisfying experiences because that's what were in the business to do. I'm very lucky to say that throughout my 37 years I've accomplished a lot in that regard."

Chief Freeman was also the recipient of the Medal of Bravery in 1996 after he saved a young girl who was trapped under the Beatty Dam in Fergus. He responded to the call as his patrol officer were responding to other calls -- Freeman says he stayed in the water with the young girl for almost two hours as police, firefighters and EMS worked to rescue the victim.

According to Freeman, every good leader has to know when the right time is to step down and he says this is his time. Freeman adds he has no regrets but admits it is a bittersweet moment. "I'm going to spend a little bit of time just decompressing and reconnecting with the family, going to get a little bit healthy again and maybe lose a little weight. I'm going to go into what will be a good month of Christmas celebrations and then come January 2nd I'm going to hit the ground running and there's going to be something in this next adventure for me -- I don't know what it is yet but there will be a next adventure."

Freeman says he is very grateful for the support he has received from the staff at the Woodstock Police Services and from the community. He says Woodstock is a terrific place to call home and he plans on spending his retirement in the Friendly City.

A Change of Command Ceremony will be held Wednesday where Freeman will hand over the sword to incoming Chief Designate William (Bill) Renton - Freeman says the handing over of the sword is symbolically represents the Command of the Police Service.

Heart FM wishes Chief Freeman all of the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of work for our city and support for the community.