The Times Advocate, 2008-11-12, Page 13Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Times -Advocate
13
Small town life suits dei,utv police chief Revmer
By Ben Forrest
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
Andre Reymer was in Grade 10 at South
Huron District High School (SHDHS) when
he decided he might want to be a cop.
I didn't really know any police officers at
the time, it just seemed to be a stable career,
he said recently. It was something where
you could go out and actually have a direct
impact on your community.
"It was something where you could have
an impact on your community, help others,
and earn a decent living, he added.
Reymer spent his early years living in the
Lucan area, then moved to a farm
near Woodham. After graduat-
ing from South Huron, he moved
to Fanshawe College, where he
enrolled in the Law and Security
program.
Fanshawe College was great,
he said. It really prepared me for
the police college. The education
was right on track, so I didn't find
it difficult academically.
After graduatingfromFanshawe, Andre Reymer
Reymer was hired by the Aylmer of the Aylmer
Police, a small regional force in El- Police
gin County.
He spent nine months on the job before en-
tering police college, where he learned that
policing small towns and large regions are
not so different.
You got to know that you have many of
the same experiences, just some of them on a
larger scale, he said.
Aylmer is a town of only 7,500 people, and
Reymer has stayed there his entire career. He
is now the force s deputy chief, and says he
enjoys the small town atmosphere the place
provides.
He has friends from his days at South Hu-
ron who have gone on to join small police
forces, and others who have gone to larger
centres.
"Those that went on to larger services have
moved and some have quit, he said.
Those with the smaller services, except
for those that have been taken over [by the]
OPP have stayed where they're at. They like
it.
Aylmer is small enough that it has
allowed him to achieve his
high school goals, Reymer1
said the main goal being �, HE
to have an impact on the ,
community. TIDE
You can actually arrest
your two local bad guys and
actually stop crime for a few weeks until
somebody else gets out of jail, he said.
Though some might think life as a small-
town policeman would be boring, Reymer
says this isn t so.
It's actually quite difficult,
because you don't have the ano-
nymity you would have in a larg-
er service, he said. Everybody
knows who you are. They know
where you live, they know who
your family are.
"You're rubbing elbows with
them on a daily basis at the gro-
cery store. So to strike that bal-
ance of policing without being an
enforcer is quite difficult."
Only once has this lack of ano-
nymity had serious consequences
for Reymer.
There was an individual Reymer describes
as having extremely violent tendencies
who Reymer investigated.
He fled the country he was out on the
run for almost two years, lived in the U.S.
and was extradited back, Reymer said.
"He used to once in a while phone up the
police service and just ask if I was working,
and if I was, he'd want the dispatcher to tell
me that he was looking for me.
The individual went to jail for a very long
time, Reymer said, and nothing serious
came of his threats.
Most police work for Reymer these days
involves traffic and bylaw enforcement,
though there has been a recent slew of day-
light robberies.
Reymer attributes this to an influx of the
drug culture namely individuals who Reymer is the son of Gerry and Annie
are addicted to crack cocaine or dependent Reymer of Woodham.
on prescription medication. He is 42 years old, graduated high school
Drug culture is something that seems in 1985, and is married with two children.
to affect many small com-
w ADr munities today, and Reymer
BallEdoes not remember
, this being the case when he was grow -
i ing up.
Being a farm boy
but not being too naive .... it was
more of an alcohol issue, he
said. Maybe some light marijuana
from what I was told, but now it's
different.
"Marijuana's still prevalent, but
prescription drugs and crack co-
caine, it's common, it's not as expen-
sive as it used to be, and it's readily
accessible, easily concealable.
Dealing with this problem in
Aylmer involves
identifying those in-
volved and getting
involved in high-
level enforcement.
You're not elimi-
nating the problem,
but you're driving
it from your com-
munity or localized
areas, he said.
Reymer noted the
people skills and
work ethic he ac-
quired while grow-
ing up in the Exeter
area have served
him well in his ca-
reer with the police.
He learned as a
youth that, a good
conversation and
a [good] attitude
will get you further
than a bad one or no
communication at
all, he said.
Buy Christmas meal tickets by Mon., Nov. 24
EXETER 45 members and two guests enjoyed a
delicious potluck dinner at the Exeter Legion Nov
4 for the Exeter Seniors, following the welcome by
President Dorothy Taylor who said grace, Thank
God for Home.
A minute of silence in memory of those men and
women who lost their lives in the First and Second
World Wars, the Korean War and the war in Afghani-
stan was observed.
Celebrating birthdays in November are: Jim Bearss,
Olga Davis and Harry Mathers, with his 90th.
Happy Anniversary was sung to Elwood and
Shirley Truemner.
Our entertainment for the evening was Bob Hey-
wood and he was introduced by Dorothy.
Bob kept us entertained with many Canadian songs
as well as gospel numbers. He also recited the poems,
If God went on Strike , and My Banker . Bob was
thanked by Bev Morgan and given a gift.
The minutes of the October meeting were read and
approved. Murray Taylor gave the financial state-
ment.
Anne Cottel gave a report on the 34th Fall Rally of
Zone 8 held in Zurich on Oct. 9.
Jim Bearss of the Senior Advisory Committee, gave
his report. He is working mainly out of his residence
at 260 Andrew St., Exeter. If you have any articles for
the Senior s Perspective that appears each week in
the Times -Advocate, drop it off to him at his home, or
e-mail it to him at jimbearss@cabletv.on.ca and he will
try and get it into the column.
He gave several humorous readings, He Said, She
Said , Purina Diet and Three Old Ladies .
Dorothy gave a short report regarding the confer-
ence in Burlington in August that she attended.
Share the Wealth winners: Harry Mathers, Elwood
Truemner, Murray Taylor, Claire Hayter, Eleanor Ma-
loney and Jeanene Hayter.
Door Prize Winners: Dave Cottel, Murray Taylor,
Ruth Insley, Helen Weber and Tiny Wells.
Joyce Lavender thanked her committee and read
Colonoscopy. Burdene Morgan read a few short
quotes and jokes, closing with Couples Don t Go
Bananas .
Dorothy closed the meeting with everyone repeat-
ing The Senior s Prayer and the singing of God
Save the Queen .
Christmas Meal tickets are to be bought from Mur-
ray Taylor by Mon., Nov 24. His phone number is
519-235-3814. The price is $11 for members and $15
for non-members. The dinner will be held on our
regular meeting night Dec. 2.
HURON
COUNTY
PUBLIC NOTICE
Re: BY-LAW TO ESTABLISH RULES
OF ORDER, REGULATIONS AND
PROCEDURES FOR THE COUNCIL AND
COMMITTEES OF THE
CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF HURON.
This notice is given under the provisions of the
Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended,
Section 238(2) - Every municipality and local board
shall pass a procedure by-law for governing the
calling, place and proceedings of meetings. Section
238(2.1) — The procedure by-law shall provide for
public notice of meetings.
The Draft Procedural By-law will be presented for
deliberation and consideration at the Committee
of the Whole Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on November
18, 2008 in the Council Chambers, Court House,
Goderich, Ontario.
Barbara A. Leamen
County Clerk
The Corporation of the County of Huron
1 Court House Square
Goderich, Ontario N7A 1M2
(519) 524-8394
HURON
COUNTY
The County of Huron
Planning and Development
Department is moving from
the Court House in Goderich.
As of November 18, 2008, the Planning and Development
Department will be on the second floor of the Assessment
Office (MPAC) at 57 Napier St., Goderich N7A 1W2
(beside the Huron County Gaol).
The phone and fax numbers remain the same: Phone
519-524-8394 ext. 3 / Fax 519-524-5677.
Please note the office will be closed for moving on
November 14. 2008 and November 17, 2008.
NNOUNCIN
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Book
Reading
Event
and Author Signing
Join Us...
Monday November 17th
for their only Goderich appearance,
7pm at Huron County Museum
North Street, Goderich.
Free Admission
(Call for more information 519-524-2686
or Fincher's Goderich 519-524-6901)
More
0N HUR01-
4 Guest Speakers...
Honourable
James M. Donnelly
Retired Judge Supreme
Miki Court of Ontario
Contributing Co -Authors to
"More on Huron"
Gordon Hill
George Brophy
Patricia Hamilton
Ideal Christmas Gift!
2 Book set $85.00 or
$45.00 for individual title
$5.00 from the sale of every
2 book set donated to the Huron
County C.T. Scanner Campaign
ROOKS • GIFTS • STATIONERY • GAMES • TOYS Evening hosted by Huron
County Museum and Fincher's
16 The Square, Goderich www.finchers.ca 519-524-6901