Robert Bruce missed policing and all of the aspects that go along with it since retiring in 2015.
So when the top policing job in Saint John became available, the former Ontario police officer jumped at the chance.
Bruce officially began his new role as chief of the Saint John Police Force on July 1, taking over the reins from interim chief Tony Hayes.
“When the opportunity came up, we looked at Saint John and the province of New Brunswick and it offered some really good things for us that we like to do,” Bruce said in a recent phone interview.
A former chief superintendent with the Ontario Provincial Police, Bruce spent 33 years with the police agency until his retirement in 2015.
During his time with OPP, he held three distinct command roles in the Field Support Bureau, Security Bureau, and the Provincial Police Academy.
He also has experience in several other capacities, including frontline policing for three detachments; the tactics and rescue unit; training; communications and technology; and incident command. He also served as Force Sergeant Major and Provincial Funeral Commander.
“Any time that you can have a diversity of experience then it lends to whatever challenges that you’ll face because you have more to draw on,” said Bruce.
Robert Bruce, a retired chief superintendent with the Ontario Provincial Police, began his new role as chief of the Saint John Police Force on July 1, 2021. (Image: Saint John Police Commission/submitted
Bruce said one of the things that drew him to Saint John was the size of the force, noting it will give him the chance to get to know everyone personally.
“In the OPP, I knew of a lot of people but I didn’t know them and I think working together with people that you can really get to know just lends more to the success of doing what you want to do,” he said.
The new chief acknowledges he has a “really steep learning curve” in front of him for this role.
Not only will he have to learn about the force and its interworkings but also the community and its culture
“What are the expectations really … and then work together with everybody in collaboration to do the best job we can at keeping Saint John secure, safe and healthy,” said Bruce.
Bruce is the latest in a line of people to hold the role of Saint John’s police chief in recent years.
Bill Reid retired in 2015 after 37 years with the police force, including seven years as chief.
He was replaced by John Bates, who lasted just over two years until his retirement in early 2018. Retired deputy chief Bruce Connell was brought back to fill the role on an interim basis.
Stephan Drolet took over in Feb. 2020 but stepped down less than a year later due to personal reasons.
But Bruce said he has no plans on going anywhere for at least the next five years.
“A constant change of leadership is not really effective, for whatever reason it is,” he said.
“My plan is if the good people of Saint John and the members of the police force will have me, to stay five years at least and then go from there.”
Chief Bruce was joined by the Honorable Judge LeMesurier to take the Oath of Office as he takes on his new role with the Saint John Police Force. An official Change of Command ceremony will take place at a future date. pic.twitter.com/yargT0WVxS
— Saint John Police (@saintjohnpolice) July 5, 2021
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