Leadership and Accountability
The man is certainly one of a kind. And as a unique personality, one who never hesitated to step out into the community, to make himself accessible and useful on a far wider scale than that of police chief of Canada's capital, Chief Vern White made a huge difference in how the work of the Ottawa Police is performed for the greater good. Some very poor-optics misapplications of police work notwithstanding, his five-year stay has been an excellent one.
The man is personable and without guile, says things that come naturally from someone who has no underhanded agenda. As he appears, and what he says, is what he is. And he has been a refreshing change from what went before him. It's been rumoured that he is not as admired as much in the rank-and-file of his organization as he is in the general public, and that's understandable. Mention that to him and he does that metaphorical shrug acknowledging that you can't please everyone.
(How could you not admire and laugh with someone who admits that earwigs give him the shudders?)
And his five-year tenure wasn't meant to please everyone. It was meant for him to demonstrate to the people of Ottawa that his wide-ranging experience, his personality and his values were to be put to work on behalf of Ottawa. In that, he rarely disappointed. It was disappointing that during his time as police chief some members of the force brought a spotlight of disgrace on law and order by their disorderly and unlawful treatment of those whom they held in custody.
When asked about how such bad behaviour could result on his watch, Chief White simply stated that he couldn't be everywhere at all times. "So, you want me in the cellblock at 3 a.m.?" These things happen. The important thing was, he said, was that the media highlighted those events, and the force responded by enacting new guidelines for acceptable procedures. The strip-search rate has declined and rules for the arrest for the intoxicated have also been altered.
He has been a community builder par excellence. Attending so many meetings and events, and supporting so many civic and community outreach programs that he has been criticized for spending too much time on those purposeful things, too little in his own office. But, says Chief White, when becoming engaged outside the force, it should be done expansively: "You can't do one, or you have to do it all". Fair enough.
"Policing for 30 years, I don't think I've ever been the guy looking inward. Realistically, we exist because of those we serve." If he were to have remained isolated from the community by never stepping outside the bounds of force affairs, he would have represented a remote leader, disinterested in what occurs outside the force. Would it have been an improvement if as chief he only dealt with internal affairs? "Everything is a distraction from everything, that's a reality."
His energy and enthusiasm, dedication and presence certainly has been different in nature to what Ottawa has been accustomed to. In his years of service, he never once fired a gun. He did double time as both a guardian of the public trust in policing, and a searcher-after-knowledge, by academic pursuits to acquire a doctorate over a 20-year period, while pursuing his police career. "I've loved every minute of it", he said in an interview.
It was thought that with his former experience in the RCMP he would be a front-line candidate for a future head of the RCMP. Instead, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper telephoned him directly while he was on holidays in Finland to offer him a senate seat he accepted without equivocation. "I didn't go looking for an appointment to the Senate. Someone came looking for me", is how he explained it.
He'll make an outstanding Senator, actively engaged and responsive to perceived needs. As the old saying goes, Ottawa's loss is Canada's gain.
The man is personable and without guile, says things that come naturally from someone who has no underhanded agenda. As he appears, and what he says, is what he is. And he has been a refreshing change from what went before him. It's been rumoured that he is not as admired as much in the rank-and-file of his organization as he is in the general public, and that's understandable. Mention that to him and he does that metaphorical shrug acknowledging that you can't please everyone.
(How could you not admire and laugh with someone who admits that earwigs give him the shudders?)
And his five-year tenure wasn't meant to please everyone. It was meant for him to demonstrate to the people of Ottawa that his wide-ranging experience, his personality and his values were to be put to work on behalf of Ottawa. In that, he rarely disappointed. It was disappointing that during his time as police chief some members of the force brought a spotlight of disgrace on law and order by their disorderly and unlawful treatment of those whom they held in custody.
When asked about how such bad behaviour could result on his watch, Chief White simply stated that he couldn't be everywhere at all times. "So, you want me in the cellblock at 3 a.m.?" These things happen. The important thing was, he said, was that the media highlighted those events, and the force responded by enacting new guidelines for acceptable procedures. The strip-search rate has declined and rules for the arrest for the intoxicated have also been altered.
He has been a community builder par excellence. Attending so many meetings and events, and supporting so many civic and community outreach programs that he has been criticized for spending too much time on those purposeful things, too little in his own office. But, says Chief White, when becoming engaged outside the force, it should be done expansively: "You can't do one, or you have to do it all". Fair enough.
"Policing for 30 years, I don't think I've ever been the guy looking inward. Realistically, we exist because of those we serve." If he were to have remained isolated from the community by never stepping outside the bounds of force affairs, he would have represented a remote leader, disinterested in what occurs outside the force. Would it have been an improvement if as chief he only dealt with internal affairs? "Everything is a distraction from everything, that's a reality."
His energy and enthusiasm, dedication and presence certainly has been different in nature to what Ottawa has been accustomed to. In his years of service, he never once fired a gun. He did double time as both a guardian of the public trust in policing, and a searcher-after-knowledge, by academic pursuits to acquire a doctorate over a 20-year period, while pursuing his police career. "I've loved every minute of it", he said in an interview.
It was thought that with his former experience in the RCMP he would be a front-line candidate for a future head of the RCMP. Instead, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper telephoned him directly while he was on holidays in Finland to offer him a senate seat he accepted without equivocation. "I didn't go looking for an appointment to the Senate. Someone came looking for me", is how he explained it.
He'll make an outstanding Senator, actively engaged and responsive to perceived needs. As the old saying goes, Ottawa's loss is Canada's gain.
Police Chief Vern White. Ottawa police Chief Vern White will trade in his police blues for a Senate robe on Feb. 20, 2012. Laura Mueller
Labels: Human Relations, Ontario, Ottawa, Values
posted by Pieface @ 6:26 PM
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