After 30 years as an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police, Wellington OPP Staff Sergeant Susan Gray has retired.
OPP officials, county councillors and staff gave a warm send-off to Gray at the June 27 county council meeting, a day prior to her official retirement from the force.
An individual who values her privacy, Gray seemed taken aback by the accolades she received at council when she was presented with a painting by Elora artist Barry McCarthy.
Councillor Ray Tout, a member of the police services board, praised Gray for her commitment to policing.
“She’s a professional in a calm way who guides you through things,” Tout said of his experience working with Gray. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and we’re going to miss you.”
OPP Inspector Scott Lawson said, “We’re going to lose a real key piece of our team … It’s been a true honour for myself professionally and personally.”
Lawson presented Gray with the painting he believes is similar to the view she will see from her retirement cottage in Nova Scotia.
Gray started her OPP career as a probationary constable with the St. Thomas detachment. She transferred to Woodstock OPP and was part of a joint investigation of the former Grandview training school along with Waterloo OPP and Waterloo Regional Police, looking into allegations of sexual abuse of inmates of the former girls home. She went back to Woodstock OPP and in 1999 was promoted to sergeant. Later she worked at the London OPP communications centre. In 2008 she was transferred to the Wellington OPP detachment.
“I wanted to provide a service to members of the public,” she told the Advertiser of her decision to get into policing. “It’s a fabulous career.”
“The staff has been outstanding,” she said of her policing colleagues.
Gray also credited the strong working relationship between the OPP, county council and staff and representatives for emergency and health-related services in the county.
“I liked working with our county partners,” she said.
She will continue living in Woodstock and spending summers at her Nova Scotia retreat.
