Cobourg Police Service Chief Paul VandeGraaf says he is leaving the service having fulfilled the pledge he made when he became chief in 2019, to leave the service better than he found it.
Speaking during his final annual report to council before retirement, VandeGraaf reflected on growing demands facing police while defending the results of initiatives like Safer Streets Cobourg.
The downtown-focused enforcement program launched last June to address high-impact areas including the Division Street corridor and surrounding parks through increased visibility, targeted enforcement and bail compliance.
Mayor Lucas Cleveland added that new wastewater analysis being circulated through provincial and federal channels suggests fentanyl levels in Cobourg dropped by as much as 60 per cent following the Safer Streets initiative.
VandeGraaf says the growing challenge is not just how many calls come in – over 18,500 in 2025 – but how much time and coordination each one requires.
He said investigations are becoming more complex, with more mental health calls, organized crime work, online harassment, swatting incidents and inter-jurisdictional investigations requiring significant police resources.
The service also seized more than $600,000 worth of illicit drugs in 2025, nearly double the previous year, along with 14 firearms and prohibited-style weapons.
Bail compliance remains another major focus.
Cobourg Police executed 276 warrant arrests last year, many involving offenders wanted by other police services.
VandeGraaf told council public safety should be viewed as a shared responsibility, adding that while policing is expensive, it remains one of the community’s most important investments.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
