Deputy Police Chief Jill Skinner retires
Posted Jun 15, 2018 10:12:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A veteran of Ottawa's Police force has decided to call it a career.
Deputy Police Chief Jill Skinner is retiring after 37 years with the force.
“I'm very happy to be going on to a new phase in life,” Skinner told 1310 NEWS. “But I'm also a little sad on some of the things that I'm missing. I see change continuing to happen here (at the Ottawa Police) and like being part of it.”
Skinner, one of the first women to put on the uniform in Ottawa, had a unique start to her career.
The West Ottawa native grew up with dreams of a career in teaching, but as she was in between jobs and about to become a bank teller, a different opportunity fell in her lap.
“A friend of mine was planning on going down for the (recruiting) interview, and the night before she backed out of the interview and I took her spot,” said Skinner. “I don't think I would've made a great bank teller.”
Listen to Deputy Police Chief Jill Skinner on 1310 NEWS' Ottawa Today with Mark Sutcliffe:
Since joining the force in 1981, Skinner made her way through the ranks. She started her service as a beat cop, eventually moving in to the Partner Abuse and Sexual Abuse units. She also helped with the launch of Ottawa's Elder Abuse Unit.
But the road wasn't easy – Skinner failed in the application process at least once each time she filed to move up into a different position.
“All that did for me was drive me to say, 'I need to do more, I need to look at me', because it has nothing to do with anybody else. It's how I'm either perceived or performing,” said Skinner.
Retiring near the top of the ranks, as the Deputy Police Chief, Skinner said her fondest career memories will come from her time on the front-lines. She added that she hopes to be remembered as hardworking, but more importantly, someone who lent a helping, compassionate hand when people needed it.
In her retirement, Skinner plans to spend time with family – her four children, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild – and hopefully sprinkle in some travelling, too.
