After 36 years of service to York Region residents and members of the force, York Regional Police Deputy Chief Robertson Rouse has announced he will be retiring this June.
The longtime officer has served in the uniform patrol, the intelligence bureau, the provincial weapons enforcement unit, No. 2 district criminal investigations bureau and as the officer in charge of the sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse bureaus, according to a news release.
Rouse was promoted to inspector in 2004 and assigned to No. 5 district headquarters in Markham. In 2008, he was promoted to superintendent and remained at No. 5 district as the officer in charge of staff services, which includes human resources, member support, employee relations and psychological services bureau prior to his promotion to deputy chief.
“Over the course of his exceptional career, Deputy Chief Rouse has made significant contributions to policing, to community safety and to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization. Robertson has served the residents of York Region with commitment and distinction. On behalf of the Police Services Board, I extend our gratitude for his 36 years of public service to our residents and over the past five years as a member of the executive command team,” said board chair Wayne Emmerson in a news release.
Rouse is the recipient of the Governor General’s Exemplary Service 20-year medal and 30-year First Bar. In May of 2022, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada. He was awarded the Human Rights and Race Relations Centre gold medal for outstanding contributions to the promotion of race relations and the National Ethnic Press and Media Council Award for distinguished service to the community and for public service.
Rouse has received numerous other awards and recognition for his extensive community work and has been the executive sponsor of many York Regional Police programs, such as the annual Black History Month celebrations, the Anti-Black Racism Working Group, and the initial Wellness Project.
“Deputy Chief Rouse has dedicated his long, successful career to excellence in policing, supporting our members and working for equity and diversity both in our police service and in our community,” said Police Chief Jim MacSween. “His loss will certainly be felt across all ranks of this organization. We look forward to formally acknowledging his many contributions in the spring.”
In the coming weeks, the board will begin the process of recruiting an internal candidate to fill the future vacancy, the release stated.
“As I reflect on the last 36 years of my career, many fond memories come to mind. Yes, there were challenges, but the fond memories far outweigh the challenges. I appreciate all the support and confidence shown in me during my tenure. I am extremely proud to have served with some of the finest women and men in the policing profession. I leave with great pride knowing that York Regional Police is a great organization and will continue to do great things for this community,” said Deputy Chief Rouse.
The police services board "wishes Deputy Chief Rouse the very best in his upcoming retirement and is grateful for his 36 years of public service."
