BY KEITH LACEY
He doesn’t know if it’s the luck of the Irish or not, but Jim Cunningham considers himself blessed to be wrapping up a career that brought him tremendous satisfaction and pride for almost four decades.
After announcing three months ago he was stepping down as Greater Sudbury’s Deputy Police Chief, this is the last week on the job for the jovial and well-liked Cunningham.
“It’s gone by in a heartbeat,” said Cunningham, who has been deputy chief on the local police service for the past 11 years.
“It’s been the best job in the world. No two days have ever been the same in my entire 38 years and I’ve got to meet a lot of wonderful people...a lot of different people.”
Born in Windsor, N.S., Cunningham’s family moved to the Greater Sudbury area when he was five years old.
After graduating from the old Nickel District Secondary School, Cunningham found out quickly the mining roots in his family didn’t run deep.
“I did a short stint at Inco and realized quickly it wasn’t for me,” he said smiling.
At the age of 21, Cunningham was hired as a constable with the Ontario Provincial Police and got his feet wet for one year before accepting a job with the old Copper Cliff Police Department.
He worked there until regional amalgamation came into effect in the early 1970s and has been a member of the Greater Sudbury Police Service ever since.
His love of the job obviously rubbed off on his family, as his daughter Sara has been a member of the local police service for the past 10 years. She’s married to another officer, John Somerset.
His other daughter, Jodi, is a local high school teacher.
Cunningham said he knew at a very young age what he wanted to do with his life.
“I knew I wanted to be a police officer from very early on in my life,” he said. “There was no particular incident or person that influenced me, but I remember growing up knowing I was going to be a police officer.”
When you put in 38 years on any job, you see a lot of things and Cunningham has literally done it all as a police officer.
He started out on general assignment, worked in the communications centre, became leader of the drug squad and eventually became more interested in administrative duties. He was named executive officer to the Chief of Police back in the 1990s. For the past 11 years, he has worked as deputy chief, first under Alex McCauley, and for the past seven years under Chief Ian Davidson, who he considers a good friend.
Looking back on his career, he says he’s enjoyed the wide variety of assignments and leadership roles, but says being deputy chief and the boss of the drug squad are highlights.
The excitement and adrenaline rush of being involved in a large-scale drug investigation still brings back fond memories, he said.
“Being in charge of the drug squad was demanding, but very rewarding,” he said.
“I liked the fact that at the end of so many days, you would go home from work knowing you’d taken some drugs off the streets that were no longer available to cause damage to people.”
Some police officers that have seen too much death and destruction on the job have a difficult time separating the job from family life, but that’s never been a problem during his career, said Cunningham.
“I learned a long time ago how to separate the job from home and family life,” he said.
He gives all the credit to Pat, his wife of 37 years and best friend.
“She’s just been a tremendous support and partner during all these years together,” he said.
“For the longest time, my career came first, but she seldom complained even though it meant my job forced me to miss a lot of important social functions and family events.
“A lot of family stuff had to be put on hold because I had to work, but she was always there to support me. She raised my children and educated them and did a fantastic job. She’s just been my pillar of strength. I couldn’t have shared my life with a better woman.”
The toughest part of his career has been dealing with the deaths of two fellow officers, said Cunningham.
Memories of Const. Joe MacDonald, who was gunned down by two career criminals back in 1993, and Sgt. Rick McDonald, who was hit by a teenager who had stolen a van and led police on a high-speed chase in the summer of 1999, still haunt him, he said.
“Losing those two officers was obviously the toughest thing I’ve ever had to deal with on the job,” he said. “It tears the department and community apart.
“We all had to deal with the pain and grief in our own way, but it was very difficult for many, many officers and it was very difficult on me.”
The man doesn’t have a lot of specific plans heading into retirement, except to complete a much-anticipated trip to Ireland in 2007, play a lot of golf and spend more time with his three grandchildren.
Cunningham and his wife are of Irish descent. They’ve never had the chance to travel to the Emerald Island and he’s really looking forward to what he believes will be the trip of a lifetime.
Davidson says the local service is losing a great guy and a superb cop.
“I think Jim has just been an excellent leader for this organization,” he said. “He’s spent 38 years policing here in Sudbury and he should be very proud of his career and what’s he
accomplished.”
Cunningham’s sharp sense of humour and relaxed attitude has made him many more friends than enemies, said Davidson.
“He’s just got the type of personality where he never really let stress get to him,” he said. “He hasn’t ever seemed to let the pressures of the job affect his personality or get to him.”
He’s thrilled Cunningham is leaving in good health and good spirits.
“I’m really happy for Jim,” he said. “He knows the time is right and he’s earned his retirement.”
Cunningham said he’ll walk away a happy and contented man.
“I’m leaving with a big smile on my face,” he said. “I’ve had a great career. I couldn’t have written a better script myself as I’ve done everything I ever wanted to do as a police officer.”
