We were deeply saddened to hear the news that our former colleague, William"Bill" McCormack, passed away yesterday on 8th September at the age of 83 at his home in Canada surrounded by his close family.
Bill could be aptly described as the ultimate "Policeman's Policeman". His father was a policeman in Mauritius were Bill was born in 1933 above the Police Station where his father was working.
Bill joined the Bermuda Police in 1955 as a young constable and spent 4 years here, first on the beat in Hamilton and then as a Parish Constable in Smith's and Hamilton Parishes.
While here he met and fell in love with a young lady from Canada, Jean Kerick, who was working at the time at the Bank of Bermuda. The two were married at St. Theresa's Cathedral in Hamilton.
From all accounts Bill was a first class police officer who was also very popular with his peers. He has written an article about his time here in Bermuda for our "Then and Now" column which you can view at http://expobermuda.com/index.php/tan/115-billmccormack
In 1959 Bill and Jean headed off to Canada where Bill joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police. From early in his career he steadily rose through the ranks, and firmly established his reputation as a highly efficient officer while serving in C.I.D. where he headed the Homicide Squad and investigated some 100 murders. He has since written a fascinating book about days as a detective entitled, "Life on Homicide; A Police Detective's Memoir"
William "Bill" McCormack, Chief of Police for the
Metropolitan Toronto Police from 1989-1995
Bill continued to rise through the ranks and was appointed Chief of the Toronto Metropolitan Police in 1989 where he continued to serve in this capacity until his retirement in 1995. Four of his five children followed him into the Police Service.
There is an excellent article about Bill in today's Toronto Sun which you can read at http://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/08/former-toronto-police-chief-bill-mccormack-dead
The article includes the following comments from the present Chief of Police, Mark Saunders and others who worked with him Chief McCormack. Mr. Saunders remembers his late predecessor as the kind of chief who once waded into a police union meeting to reassure its members.
Saunders was a constable under McCormack’s tenure. At a press conference where he offered condolences to those mourning McCormack’s passing, he recounted a time when a “contentious issue” emerged between the Toronto Police Association and the police service’s management back then. “Chief McCormack actually came to the meeting and sat down and spoke with us, which is something that is rare and basically said ‘Look, you folks, you worry about police work and I’ll worry about all that other stuff, but just keep the city safe,’” said Saunders, adding that McCormack’s legacy includes the creation of the force’s ceremonial unit as well as the Toronto Police museum.
Const. Scott Mills met McCormack after he had already stepped down as chief. Even then, the former top cop remained involved in helping out younger officers. “He made you feel important, he made you feel what you had to say mattered, and he wanted to help you along the journey for community safety,” said Mills. “He knew everybody by name. “Even after he was retired, when you needed advice, you could call him up ... and he’d meet you for a coffee and just give you advice.”
Former councillor Norm Gardner was a member of the police board during McCormack’s time as top cop.
“Number one, (officers’) morale when he was chief was very good,” said Gardner, who had supported the push to keep the chief. “He had a good rapport with the people he worked with.”
“He was very respected in policing circles,” Gardner said, noting that policing was in McCormack’s bloodline. “His dad was in charge of the police on the island of Mauritius, so he was brought up in that kind of environment.”
Senator Art Eggleton was mayor for some of McCormack’s time as chief. “I always thought of him as being the consummate police officer,” said Eggleton. “I always thought he carried it with great dignity.”
The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul’s Basilica in Toronto, followed by a private interment open to family only. For those of our members living in the Toronto area there is a book of condolences available in the lobby of Toronto Police headquarters for members of the police service and the public until Monday.
Bill's name will be added to the list of our former Bermuda Police Officers who have died during the past 2 years and who will be specially remembered at our Annual Police Memorial Service being held during Police Week on Sunday afternoon 2nd October at 4pm, followed by a reception at the PRC.
17th September 2016
As reported earlier, the funeral for our former colleague, William "Bill" McCormack was held at St.Paul's Basilica in Torontomon Monday 12th September 2016. Bill's son, Mike McCormack gave very fitting eulogy for his father which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMVGYoDuzwQ