CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Charlottetown Police Services finally got its man.
Cpl. Sean Coombs, 47, a veteran of the city’s police force, has been named deputy police chief, replacing Gary McGuigan who retired in June.
Coombs will officially begin his new duties on Monday, Oct. 15 and, like McGuigan, will work alongside the department’s other deputy chief, Brad MacConnell.
“It’s more than a dream come true,’’ Coombs said in an interview Friday. “It’s more than I ever imagined. I envisioned myself retiring as a patrol sergeant, that’s kind of where I saw myself going, and this opportunity came up and they decided I was the right man for the job. It’s a dream come true.’’
Related: Charlottetown deputy police chief Gary McGuigan retires
Coombs has been employed with the city force since amalgamation in 1995. He did about 10 years of police work on the street before heading into the street crime drug section, became a corporal and a supervisor before this opportunity came up.
Job description
- Responsible for the oversight of uniform patrol
- Act as lead with respect to development and implementation of community policing initiatives
- Responsible for the oversight of major crime, communications/records, technology/e-watch, traffic and support services and parking ticket/reception
- Reports to the chief of police
- Works closely with the other deputy chief of police
MacConnell wasn’t sure how many applied for the job, but said there were certainly applicants within the department that were more than qualified.
Seeing Coombs get the job was especially meaningful for MacConnell.
“It’s certainly exciting because Sean and I started at Charlottetown police together,’’ MacConnell said. “For him and I to be at this level together is something that we’re both proud of.’’
Coun. Jason Coady, chairman of the city’s protective and emergency services committee, said Coombs was the right choice.
“He’s got lots of experience. We’re certainly looking forward to working with him and glad to have him on board as our deputy chief,’’ Coady said.
Coombs will handle a lot of the community policing work that McGuigan did, although they’ll work him in slowly.
“I know we’re going to share a lot of assignments over the next six months and I have to go on some training as well,’’ Coombs said. “They’re not throwing everything at me on day one. I have to go on a big course at Canadian Police College (in Ottawa) and there’s some other things to learn, too.’’
Coombs said the chance to work more with the community really appealed to him.
“He’s got big shoes to fill in replacing Gary McGuigan. We miss Gary, but I know Sean is up to the task,’’ MacConnell said.
Being named co-deputy chief will also give Coombs more say in the direction of the department.
“(There’s going to be) a lot of exciting things in the future and I’d like to be at that next level where I can have input into it.’’
