Retiring WRPS deputy chief describes career highlights and challenges
A community leader in Waterloo region is moving onto a new chapter.
After 33 years of service, Deputy Police Chief Shirley Hilton, who also oversaw the region’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, will retire this spring.
Hilton described her emotions as “elated”. She said she’s proud of her career, where she came from and where she’s going.
In 1990 Hilton began her career as a patrol constable in Cambridge with the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS).
Since then, she has taken on various positions, including homicide, drug enforcement, frontline patrol and investigations.
Hilton was named acting deputy chief between January and June of 2019 and eventually named deputy chief in 2020 – the first female to ever be acclaimed to the position.
Her passion for mentoring led her to help create a women in leadership network with the vision to commit to celebrating and shaping the future of women in policing.
“I would have to say challenging the status quo around women in policing, around our role in policing, has been probably my passion and my highlight,” Hilton told CTV News.
Throughout her career Hilton represented the police force at a number of national and provincial organizations.
Hilton also took on the role as lead of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force for the Region of Waterloo during the pandemic.
She said those times were challenging in a very uncertain time.
“It was kind of like a unicorn. We really didn’t know what the vaccine would look like,” she said.
She admitted it was an overwhelming position at first.
“But at the same time I felt that there is certainly responsibility from a broader perspective. ‘What can I do to assist in this crisis?’ Because we really truly were in a crisis,” Hilton said.
Hilton said her decision to retire ultimately came down to family and the flexibility to spend time with them and be there for them as they have been for her.
Hilton expects her last day at the end of May will be an emotional one.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW She developed a passion for genealogy while finding her roots. Now she helps others find their own
Lauren Robilliard always knew she was adopted. As the B.C. native grew older, she developed a passion for genealogy, tracing her roots and paving the way for a career to help others find their own.
Papua New Guinea says landslide buried more than 2,000 people
A Papua New Guinea government official has told the United Nations more than 2,000 people were believed to have been buried alive by Friday's landslide and has formally asked for international help.
NEW A cross-country look at beer and wine in convenience stores
By Labour Day weekend, Ontarians of legal drinking age could snag a six-pack at their local convenience store on the way to the cottage. But what are alcohol sales like across the country? Here's what we know.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
'We were vetted': Sex-ed organization 'disappointed' over Higgs' comments
The head of a Quebec-based sexual and reproductive health organization says she's disappointed New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has deemed presentations she did in the province last week inappropriate.
Cyclone floods coastal villages, blows away thatched roofs and cuts power in Bangladesh and India
A cyclone flooded coastal villages, blew away thatched roofs and left hundreds of thousands of people without power Monday in southern Bangladesh and eastern India. At least seven deaths were reported.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.