Shelburne Police Chief of 30 years retiring today

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When Shelburne Police Service (SPS) makes the transitions to OPP on Feb. 18 they will be doing so without Police Chief Kent Moore. 

After more than 30 years of service on the local force and 15 of those years spent as the Chief of Police, Moore said he will be retiring. 

“I've thoroughly enjoyed my 34 years in the Town of Shelburne and it's been a pleasure serving the Town. When you're a police officer in a town for that long you build a lot of relationships with citizens, community groups, businesses and that's been extremely rewarding.” said Chief Moore. “It's brought some incredible opportunities and challenges through my many years as a police officer, but at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade in a moment [of] my career with the Shelburne Police Service.” 

Moore joined the Shelburne Police Service as a constable in January of 1987, at the time the local force had only five officers. 

“I knew as a teenager that I wanted to become a police officer and in late 1986, I saw the ad for a job with the Shelburne Police Service and I applied,” explains Moore. “Luckily I was the successful candidate, there were 59 other applicants, luckily I was chosen and I thank our past Chiefs for giving me that opportunity.” 

Moore was later promoted to sergeant in 1999, and in 2005 was promoted to Shelburne's Chief of Police. During his career Moore was awarded the Order of Merit (M.O.M) in 2018, Police Exemplary Service Medal for 30 years of service in 2017, and a Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal. 

Looking back on his career with SPS and his accomplishments, Moore says he is most proud of the relationship the force has made with the Shelburne community. 

“It has been through those partnerships that our service has been able to be so successful, in many ways in obtaining certain thing like excellent clearance rates for crime and low crime rates and so that's what I'm most proud of, is just the relationship we have developed over the many years.” 

When asked by the Free Press how he hopes his role as the last Chief for the Shelburne Police Service is remembered by the community Moore said, “When you sign up for a leadership position you really don't know what you're getting yourself into at the time, but it takes a lot of dedication and I hope that would be remembered.” 

When Shelburne Town Council made the decision last year to transition the local police force to OPP, Moore didn't have any immediate plans to retire. 

“It was a hard decision and it was one that has taken me some time to make. When you've been with an organization for 34 years, and you've been in the same career for that time, it's certainly a difficult decision to make,” said Moore. “I've loved policing and I'm grateful for the support.” 

Shelburne Police will officially transition to the OPP on Feb. 18, which will also mark Moore's official last day as Chief of Police, but he shares no qualms about the transition. 

“I feel positive about what the OPP will do in our community,” said Moore. “I feel confident in our officers who are transitioning over to OPP as well as their current officers that they will keep our communities safe.”

With his retirement Moore noted the support of his family of his three decade long career. 

“I've always been very fortunate to have the support and encouragement of my wife and children. You can't be successful in the role of a Police Chief unless you have that support and encouragement, and it hasn't always been easy. I'm extremely thankful to my wife and my kids,” he remarked.