Police chief stepping down

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This article was published 14/08/2012 (5047 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s chief constable has decided to call it a career.

Keith Atkinson announced to Brandon City Council on Monday that he will be stepping down as chief of the Brandon Police Service as of Jan. 25.

“I think it’s an opportune time where we are in a new building so the new chief has a modern police facility that they can implement their strategies in,” Atkinson said. “Also, with a new board of police commissioners coming on board, it’s a good opportunity for them to mould the next chief in the direction they want to go in rather than having a fellow that’s been around for a while. It’s easier for them.”

At the time of his retirement, Atkinson, 55, will have been chief of police in Brandon for six years and will have been working in law enforcement for more than 33 years.

“It took five years to do the building and there’s a few things I really wanted to get going that I really couldn’t get going while the building was under construction,” Atkinson said. “So this way, once the building is complete, I felt this was a good time to go. I have been thinking about this for six months, and my family and I have spoken and decided this would be the best time to do this.”

Atkinson said he wanted to spend more time with his family and retiring from policing will give him that opportunity. However, Atkinson added it was not an easy decision to make and it comes at a time when Brandon’s crime severity index statistics are at their lowest point since the statistic was introduced in 1976.

In his report to city council, Atkinson said Brandon’s overall crime rate is 9,566 per 100,000 people, the first time this figure has dipped below 10,000 incidents per 100,000 people since 1976. The overall crime severity index also dipped below 100 points to 82.3. In 1999, this figure was 160 and the decrease indicates there are fewer crimes reported to the Brandon Police Service.

“It is good to see because I’ve always felt the numbers were going down,” Atkinson said.

Coun. Jim McCrae (Meadows), a former Manitoba attorney general, said Atkinson’s work is appreciated and he also made note of a change made to the branding of the police force.

“I think you were the one responsible for our black and white police cars,” McCrae said. “I have felt ever since that happened that it was the greatest thing that ever happened and thanks for all the stuff I don’t even know about. I do know you lead a well-trained accredited police organization which is one of the most respected police agencies in all of Canada. That’s happened under your watch and I thank you for that.”

Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes) joked about whether he could provide notice of motion to reject Atkinson’s retirement request, just prior to city manager Scott Hildebrand offering his thanks for Atkinson’s service to the city on behalf of city administration.

While moved by the standing ovation that resulted, Atkinson said he had no plans to reverse his decision.

“Things have changed so much since I started and every time you turn around, there’s something new again. I’m an old guy. It’s hard to conform to some of the new things and this way, someone, probably younger, can come in and adapt. It always will change because it is an ever-changing profession, but the changes are more and more rapid.”

Atkinson said he would miss the people he works with the most.

“I reflected on that tonight as I was sitting there that every day, I have contact with great individuals and I won’t see them every day anymore,” Atkinson said.

» kborkowsky@brandonsun.com