Losing a police chief

By Jennifer Hoegg

The Hants Journal/NovanewsNow.com

Windsor is keeping one of its finest. Windsor’s police chief turned in his badge April 30, but retired RCMP staff sergeant Tom Grant – who has been “everywhere” during his 34-year career -- is choosing Windsor for his retirement. “We’re not planning on leaving here,” Grant said in a recent interview. “It’s close to the city and I have deer and cows in my backyard.”

The Cape Breton native does not hesitate to name the highlight of his six years in Windsor: “The people. I like the people here. I like how they’re more laid back.”

Grant is a people-person and highly entertaining in conversation. It’s obvious his sense of humour has served him well as a police officer. Jokes about what to do with his spare time – such as alphabetizing the kitchen -- help ease his transition into retirement.

And that humour may have helped Grant battle his biggest opponent -- throat cancer, four years ago. He credits family support and the “wonderful treatment” received from the QE2 Cancer Centre’s Drs. Rajaraman and Davis. “I had cancer but I was lucky. They got it all without surgery.”

After beating the disease with seven months of intensive treatment, Grant offers advice. “It was detected early -- by coughing up blood. I’m one of the lucky ones. If you think there is something wrong, go get checked.”

Grant gives his time freely to cancer causes -- “I’m a survivor; I do the walks” – and offers support to other patients. “I do some counselling for people with similar types of cancer.” He even fields calls at 3 a.m., shrugging it off as something “you’re used to in this job.”

Varied career

Grant’s career began as a plain-clothes officer in Vancouver. From there, a varied career took Grant, his wife and three daughters through Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia, Yukon and then home to Nova Scotia.

Fondly recalling how he came to his favourite posting -- Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory, population 68 – Grant said, “I was up doing a job just south of Yukon and loved the area. All five of us packed up and headed north. It’s so alive up there. The excitement of the North is amazing -- the scenery, the wildlife.”

The most westerly community in Canada, Beaver Creek remains a family favourite, too. Grant was the tiny town’s entire police force and game warden and his wife, Judy, was the community’s nurse.

When their daughters approached high school age, the Grants decided it was time to move south. Since returning to Nova Scotia 10 years ago, promotions moved the Grants from Yarmouth to Kingston and then to Windsor.

Perhaps not as unique as Beaver Creek, Windsor District is an interesting posting. The detachment enforces everything from municipal bylaws to federal legislation in a large area, serving West Hants, Windsor, Hantsport and almost half of East Hants.

Grant oversaw 31 members -- including a street-crime unit, school-liaison and community-police officers, the Windsor town office and community police offices in Hantsport and Mount Uniacke.

The entire detachment detains an average of 300 “guests” each year.

Things have changed during Grant’s tenure, including the creation of a separate traffic services division for the Valley.

What is important to Grant, is a reduction in crime rates. “If it was a high crime area, I wouldn’t be retiring here. It’s a safe community”

Retirement

He may claim to have no hobbies, but Grant seems to be a busy guy. A family–oriented lifestyle means lots of time planned with his wife and three grown daughters. The Grants enjoy travel and already have one post-retirement trip planned.

Grant is looking forward to exploring the “very interesting” communities in west Texas. “People are like east coasters down there.”

Only 55, Grant said, “I could have stayed longer, but it’s good if you know it’s time. I’m ready to leave it for the younger officers.” Besides, he added, “I’m not meant to ride a desk.”

He may be giving up life behind the desk, but Grant will not be giving up his Windsor life. “We live on a really good street. People really get along. We have made good friends here.”