Paul Cook
Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies
Degree: Law and Security Administration
Year of graduation: 1981
Committed to Community Service
Paul Cook has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years, the past seven as North Bay Ontario’s Chief of Police.
Paul is a life-long resident of North Bay and a bona fide “Air Force brat”, having been raised within an Air Force family. In 2010, he was appointed as Honorary Colonel of 51 Aerospace Warning and Control Squadron, 22 Wing North Bay.
After graduating from the Ontario Police College in 1982, Paul served as a Constable in various branches and was promoted to Sergeant in 1995. Prior to his current post, he served for four years as Deputy Chief. In addition to his Sheridan education, Paul is a 2003 graduate of the business administration program at Canadore College and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Paul identifies his time at the FBI National Academy in 2003 as a career high point. There were approximately 250 police and some military leaders from all over the world in his training course. “To say this was a once in a lifetime learning opportunity would be an understatement,” says Paul. “My roommate, Richard Barton, was a Chief Superintendent with the Sussex Police in England. He has since retired and travels the world lecturing to police agencies on everything from counter terrorism to leadership. We have remained in contact since graduating and even arranged an officer exchange program between Sussex and North Bay,” says Paul.
A varsity athlete at Sheridan, Paul has many good memories of his time as a member of both the hockey and soccer teams. “Our soccer team traveled to Purdue and Notre Dame both years I was at Sheridan. I made several friendships with teammates whom I am still in contact with today,” he says. Our coaches taught us a number of life lessons that I attribute, in large part, to the success I have experienced in my career and family life,” says Paul who has a grown son and daughter with his wife Karen, a labour and delivery nurse in North Bay.
Paul is a member of several committees and boards, including the Critical Incident Stress Management Advisory Board, the North Bay Youth Soccer Executive Board and the North Bay Sports Awards Committee. He is a former member of the Canadore College Board of Directors. He has served in various capacities with a number of organizations and community groups over the years, including the Cancer Society, Special Olympics, and the North Bay Food Bank, to name but a few.
Paul is the recipient of the Order of Merit for Police (Member), the Police Exemplary Service Medal and received the Al Brennan Award by the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Committee in 2002 for his contribution to the sport of Ringette.
He encourages anyone interested in making a difference in their community to join the policing profession. “In fact there are very few professions, if any, that have as great an impact on community safety and quality of life.” New graduates should continue to follow their dream of police work, he adds. “The hiring process is competitive and arduous. If you are not successful the first time around, keep applying. Continuing with your education and being active in your community will make you an attractive candidate to any police organization.”
Paul Cook has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years, the past seven as North Bay Ontario’s Chief of Police.
Paul is a life-long resident of North Bay and a bona fide “Air Force brat”, having been raised within an Air Force family. In 2010, he was appointed as Honorary Colonel of 51 Aerospace Warning and Control Squadron, 22 Wing North Bay.
After graduating from the Ontario Police College in 1982, Paul served as a Constable in various branches and was promoted to Sergeant in 1995. Prior to his current post, he served for four years as Deputy Chief. In addition to his Sheridan education, Paul is a 2003 graduate of the business administration program at Canadore College and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Paul identifies his time at the FBI National Academy in 2003 as a career high point. There were approximately 250 police and some military leaders from all over the world in his training course. “To say this was a once in a lifetime learning opportunity would be an understatement,” says Paul. “My roommate, Richard Barton, was a Chief Superintendent with the Sussex Police in England. He has since retired and travels the world lecturing to police agencies on everything from counter terrorism to leadership. We have remained in contact since graduating and even arranged an officer exchange program between Sussex and North Bay,” says Paul.
A varsity athlete at Sheridan, Paul has many good memories of his time as a member of both the hockey and soccer teams. “Our soccer team traveled to Purdue and Notre Dame both years I was at Sheridan. I made several friendships with teammates whom I am still in contact with today,” he says. Our coaches taught us a number of life lessons that I attribute, in large part, to the success I have experienced in my career and family life,” says Paul who has a grown son and daughter with his wife Karen, a labour and delivery nurse in North Bay.
Paul is a member of several committees and boards, including the Critical Incident Stress Management Advisory Board, the North Bay Youth Soccer Executive Board and the North Bay Sports Awards Committee. He is a former member of the Canadore College Board of Directors. He has served in various capacities with a number of organizations and community groups over the years, including the Cancer Society, Special Olympics, and the North Bay Food Bank, to name but a few.
Paul is the recipient of the Order of Merit for Police (Member), the Police Exemplary Service Medal and received the Al Brennan Award by the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Committee in 2002 for his contribution to the sport of Ringette.
He encourages anyone interested in making a difference in their community to join the policing profession. “In fact there are very few professions, if any, that have as great an impact on community safety and quality of life.” New graduates should continue to follow their dream of police work, he adds. “The hiring process is competitive and arduous. If you are not successful the first time around, keep applying. Continuing with your education and being active in your community will make you an attractive candidate to any police organization.”