Police chief Keith McCaskill to step down

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This article was published 02/03/2012 (4996 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill will leave his position in December, he announced today, saying stepping down was the “right move” after five years in the role.

McCaskill said he made the decision after conferring with his family, specifically his wife, Grace, who was present for the announcement.

“My initial thought when I first became chief was to stay five years, that’s still our thought. My wife has directed me that five years is enough,” McCaskill said.

“The decision is the right move for us.”

McCaskill plans to remain in his role until December 9, 2012, the last day of his contract. He began as chief in December 2007.

McCaskill has spent a total of 30 years with the WPS. He said he is not closed to other opportunities. The WPS veteran said the highlight of his career was “dealing with people, not only within the service but in the community as well.”

“We’ve developed strong relationships with the community. The membership has done an unbelievable job,” he said.

Mayor Katz not surprised

McCaskill said he notified Mayor Sam Katz he wanted to leave the role earlier this week, and noted he wanted to leave adequate time to select the new chief.

The selection of a new chief will fall on the city’s chief administrative officer. McCaskill said he’d like to see a person hired from within the Winnipeg Police Service.

Katz said he has a lot of respect for McCaskill and briefly contemplated asking him to remain with the service. But the mayor said he was not surprised McCaskill cited personal reasons for wanting to step down from a demanding job.

“I’ve spent time at functions with the chief and his wife, Grace. I’m not surprised. I know the kinds of things they enjoy, travelling,” the mayor told reporters Friday afternoon.

Katz said he was very pleased with the way McCaskill engaged the community, especially inner-city residents frustrated by crime in their neighbourhoods. Katz said McCaskill did a good job of listening to citizens and said he would like to see the next police chief be as good a listener.

The mayor chafed, however, at McCaskill’s preference for his successor to be chosen from within the Winnipeg Police Service. Katz called that ironic, given that McCaskill was working outside the WPS when he was chosen for his current job.

Katz said it’s entirely realistic for a new chief to be in place by December.

City council protection chairwoman Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood-Tuxedo) said she was surprised to learn of McCaskill’s departure, adding she had only heard rumours of the possibility.

Havixbeck said the chief did a good job of trying to engage the police service and took a first shot at creating a crime-reduction strategy.

On a lighter note, Katz suggested it would be hard to replace McCaskill’s haircut, which he called among the best in the city.

Chief ‘doesn’t look for accolades’: wife

Grace McCaskill, who will celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary with her husband later this year, said she supports her husband’s departure from the role of police chief.

“I’m feeling extremely happy,” said Grace, who said she was her husband’s “biggest fan.”

“I don’t know if he’ll stay retired. I’m hoping, but we’ll see what happens,” she said.

Grace McCaskill described her husband as someone who “does the right thing whether somebody’s watching or not” and “doesn’t look for accolades.”

The McCaskills have two children who are officers with the WPS.

Decision not political: McCaskill

In his career, McCaskill had played key roles in the development of the Arson Strike Force, as well as working for the province as the coordinator of aboriginal and municipal law enforcement.

McCaskill said his time leading the 1,400 person organization has included the introduction of the Tactical Support Team, as well as the police helicopter.

He said his decision was “absolutely not” tied to any political issues, and that he wasn’t retiring to make a move into politics.

McCaskill also said leaving the WPS shouldn’t impact the recently launched violent crime reduction strategy, a long-ranging plan for the Winnipeg Police Service.

Chief ‘always a gentleman’: union leader

Mike Sutherland, head of the Winnipeg Police Association, said he was a little surprised by McCaskill’s announcement Friday.

“Everyone needs to make the decisions that work for their lives, and certainly, I have the utmost respect for the chief.

“I wish him very well in whatever future endeavour he’ll be undertaking, or if he’s just going to spend some more time with family.”

Sutherland said he and McCaskill “didn’t see eye-to-eye on every issue, but Keith was always a gentleman, always very diplomatic.”

Sutherland said “five years in the chief’s position…(is) an arduous and challenging job.”

The Winnipeg Police Service has two deputy chiefs and four superintendents that fall under the chief.

Both Deputy Chief Shelley Hart and Deputy Chief Art Stannard were promoted into their roles during McCaskill’s leadership. Hart was promoted in 2008, and Stannard was promoted in 2010.

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

– with files from Bartley Kives