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
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.