At ISN, our steady growth wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable contributions of Paul Cook. After retiring as Chief of Police in North Bay in 2016, following over three decades of service, Paul was ready for his next chapter when ISN came knocking.
With strong ties to both the Canadian and Ontario Associations of Chiefs of Police, Paul saw an opportunity to leverage his long-standing relationships to continue making an impact, supporting both the policing community and the broader public.
Since joining ISN, Paul has been instrumental in growing our presence within the policing community, helping us provide support to nearly three dozen police services and boards across the province.
In the past two years, Paul has been in charge of leading ISN’s business development team. Under his leadership, ISN has grown to support both private and public sector clients, non-profits, and community service organizations.
When it comes to supporting police services, Paul understands the challenges all too well. “Police are busier than ever today,” he says. “Many of the departments are short-staffed and police personnel often need additional assistance. That’s where we come in.” He highlights the added pressures police are now facing, including societal issues like poverty, addiction, mental health, and housing insecurity – problems that police departments often don’t have the bandwidth or resources to tackle alone.
The growing demand for external support has positioned ISN as a trusted partner for police services. Under Paul’s guidance, ISN has assisted several police departments with background checks for new hires and conducted a variety of workplace investigations. “We understand the culture,” Paul explains, noting that ISN’s involvement, as an independent third-party can actually shut down allegations of bias.
Paul has also expanded ISN’s presence in the legal sector, where ISN’s deep bench strength in all aspects of law enforcement serves as a tremendous asset. In addition to workplace investigations, surveillance and open-source checks, ISN also assists law firms by reviewing civil suit files and preparing reports to facilitate settlement discussions on key issues.
For Paul, working with ISN is just one aspect of a fulfilling post-policing career. While he grew up all around Canada, North Bay has always been home. He recently served as Chancellor of Nipissing University, and he and his wife are both heavily involved in various community initiatives.
Despite a distinguished career, Paul has no plans to slow down. His motto remains simple: “Make a difference every day.”