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4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, December 29, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star December 14 was anything but a routine day for Carl Fitzgerald. Sure, he put on his uniform, including the badge and bulky body armour, strapped on the Glock 9 mm service revolver and reported for duty, just as he had countless times over the years. But when that shift ended, so ended a part of his life. It was his last day of active duty as a police officer. After a career that spanned 31 years, Durham Region Police Sgt. Fitzgerald was retired. The long-time Port Perry resident, who's well known in the community for his involvement in sports -- including mens' hockey, slo-pitch, and managing minor hockey teams -- told the Port Perry Star it was defi- nitely a day of mixed emotion on his part, especially when fellow officers from his platoon in 26 Division took him out for dinner after that final shift. While stating that he's come to terms with retire- ment, he said that if given the choice to do it all over it again, there wouldn't be a second's hesitation. "I have absolutely no regrets. And yes, I'd do it again, in a heartbeat," he said of his 31-year career. "Policing has been very good for me, given an excel- lent life and lifestyle for myself and family," he said, relaxing over a cup of coffee. A resident of Port Perry for more than 20 years, he believes firmly in police officers taking an active role in community affairs. As an indication of how well known he is, several persons stopped to say hello during a 45- minute interview in a busy local restaurant. His reasons for deciding that now is the time to retire are simple enough. The pension plan opened a "window of opportunity" in which he can take retirement without penalty, and in fact working another year or two would not make much difference to his pension. So, after 31 years of weekends and night shifts, he knew it was time to "turn the page". But don't expect to see him spending his days in a rocking chair with a book. On the contrary. He's looking forward to a new career. At the moment he's not sure what, but already he's had some offers to contemplate. But, he says with a smile, he won't be working night shifts or weekends. And during the summer months he will insist on Thursdays off to get in the weekly round with a group of buddies, elite golfers all, who have been tearing up the fairways together for years. . And he has no plans to retire from Sunday morning hockey or mens' slo-pitch in the summer. Carl was a founder of the Mens Hockey League in Port Perry in After 30 years, Carl Fitzgerald has retired. 1981, and is one of a handful of players from that year still lacing on the skates each week. Sports have always had an important role in his life, and one of his happiest and proudest moments was when he played on the same team with sons Derek and Gregg. Carl began his police career in 1969 with the CN Police, working out of Union Station in Toronto, patrolling the massive freight yards and having respon- sibility for the safety of rail passengers. - He soon transferred to CN's Oshawa office and, in 1974, with the formation of Durham Region, joined the new regional police department. (It is now officially called police services) As a teenager in Pickering, he had no "burning desire" to be a police officer, and in fact was working for Last shift: carer cop Fitzgerald calls it quits the local conservation authority when a friend con- vinced him to try the CN Police. He's the only member of his family to select policing as a career. He and his wife Bonnie, also a Pickering native, moved to Port Perry in 1977 to raise their young sons, who both continue to make their homes in the commu- nity to raise their families here. Carl stresses the importance of police officers getting involved in the affairs of the community where they live and work. On more than one occasion, he says, he's ~ brought a police matter to a satisfactory conclusion over a cup of coffee "on the tail-gate of my half-ton truck." Carl's personal highlights would include his promo- tion to sergeant, and receiving his 30-year Award of Merit. Working with his fellow officers and dealing with the public also gave him a great deal of satisfaction, as ~did the sense of accomplishment in bringing a difficult case to a successful end. Policing, by its very nature, has its share of down- sides to be sure. But the negatives are not something he dwells upon. And of course, police work, like most everything else, is vastly different at the end of the millennium than the day Carl first put on his badge and gun in 1969. The biggest changes, he said, are in the equipment now available to the modern police force -- everything from computers to communications to weaponry. Even the bullet-proof vests which are a standard part of an officer's equipment are a fairly recent innovation. He admits he never quite got used to the hot, bulky vests, but accepts them as a crucial part of the equip- ment. Police forces have changed to reflect society. Old bar- riers such as height, weight and gender have long dis- appeared. Education, along with constant and ongoing training, are stressed as police officers deal with an ever-changing society. "You must have the ability to adjust and adapt," says Carl. On a given shift, for example, a police officer can face anything from a wild bar-room brawl to a compassion- ate call -- informing a family of a sudden death. Without a moment's hesitation, he says he would rec- ommend a police career to any young person these days. "Policing has been very good to me." Inspector Chuck Mercier, officer in charge of 26 Division, has known Carl for some 20 years. He told the Port Perry Star that Carl's community involvement made him well known to the point where people often got in touch with him personally about police matters. "As a police officer, he was totally committed to his work," said Insp. Mercier. She's off to Northern Ontatio By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star For nine years, Elaine Barber has been leading worship at the Scugog Island and Manchester United Churches but all that is coming to an end soon. On Jan. 9 Elaine will be preaching her final ser- mon at a joint service at Scugog Island United Church. Then she's off to her new calling in Northern Ontario. This is Elaine's third post since 1987, when she was commissioned as a diaconal minister in the United Church of Canada. Her first calling was at Centennial Albert UC, where she worked half-time as an associate minister. In 1990 she accepted a call to the Scugog Pastoral Charge. "I thought nine years was long enough to be here, and it was time to move on," she said in a recent interview. "But I've enjoyed it here immensely. I love the peo- ple. There was never a dull moment, and there was always something new going on." While Elaine did not know where her next calling would take her, she knew it would have to be some picturesque location. Over the summer, she read in the United Church Observer about a position in the beautiful town of Bruce Mines, on the north shore of Lake Huron, , . For two days in August the people escorted her about Bruce Mines , a population of 600, and the sur- rounding area. While Elaine will be living in the manse beside Minister leaving | land church HE Bruce Mines UC, she will also be serving the congre- gation in Desbarats, a smaller town nearby . Elaine's work and energy will be missed within the Scugog Pastoral Charge. During her nine years here the congregations have held many informal activi- ties, "so everyone could see we have informal com- munity churches". Much of her energy was also focussed on children's programs. While her husband, Doug, is in the process of retir- ing from his law firm, the Barbers' three children have left the nest, and are now enjoying their own careers. Doug, who is also a musician and plays with dif- ferent groups, is looking forward to sharing his inter- est, love and knowledge of classical music with chil- dren in their new home. A committee has been formed to do a needs assess- ment for Scugog Island Church. Meanwhile, Manchester United Church will be closing its doors forever this spring. Until a new minister is hired at Scugog Island Church, it's expected an interim minister will fill in at the pulpit. After Elaine's final sermon on Jan. 9, lunch will be served at the hall across the road. After nine years here, Elaine Barber is leaving the Scugog Island and Manchester United Churches. She and husband Doug are bound for Northern Ontario. The church is searching for a new pastor for the charge. lad LAY, RAR AVIA Fru HR SHATTERS BALE RR RRR; [PX Hitigeers 4 Sas BY RTS 3 RERNappporerer i! LARA A SA eo RR : BESSA 5 5.8 SAAS IAN Att HY La oN Satisrsnin th PRRERRERROLY ot! Jrrrrrrerect I ELT EL