Last ditch pitch to keep De Caire fails

A last ditch effort to keep Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire has failed.

Members of the police services board debated asking the chief to take back his resignation and stay on during a two-hour closed-door meeting Monday, says Coun. Lloyd Ferguson.

He did a lot of good things for the city, so some people wanted us to convince him to take his resignation back, said Ferguson, who is vice chair of the board but stressed he was speaking personally and not on behalf of the police services board.

In the end, the board voted to accept the resignation and not ask De Caire to say. Ferguson wouldn't say how close the vote was, but a statement from the board said the decision wasn't unanimous. The chief is retiring effective Dec. 31, 2014.

The board is very grateful to Chief De Caire for his outstanding service to the City of Hamilton and salutes his many accomplishments and those of the service under his leadership, the statement reads.

• RELATED:De Caire won't seek contract extension

De Caire announced his retirement back in September. Ferguson says he didn't know why the chief announced his intentions so far in advance.

"I asked him that question and he just said its a personal decision, which it is, Ferguson said. "So we wish him well."

The decision marks the end of De Caire's sometimes controversial run as head of Hamilton's police service. While many cite positive changes under his time, some also speak of his uncompromising nature and strict disciplinary measures that saw him butt heads with the association representing some 1,200 Hamilton police officers and staff.

It also comes at the end of a fractured year with city hall, where councillors battled with him over budget issues.

Coun. Bernie Morelli, board chair, said he's heard comments from the public "on both sides of the equation" in terms of wanting De Caire to stay.

"The bottom line is we dealt with his resignation. He tendered it and we accepted it."

De Caire has been chief since November 2009, arriving from Toronto, where he served as a staff superintendent. He recently had a performance review with the Hamilton police services board.

When it comes to selecting a new chief, Ferguson would only say, I think we have a couple very capable deputies.

But I think well also look externally too, he said.