“It's been an incredible career, and I'm just so pleased to be able to have started and finished out my career — all 40 years — right here in an incredible community working with some very, very dedicated people within the service and within the city organization.” This is what Chief Brad Neduzak of the Morden Police Service said in an earlier interview at the announcement of his retirement a few months ago. Now, as the season transitions, after serving as Morden’s police chief for longer than anyone else in the city’s history, it’s time for Chief Neduzak to embrace his transition, too. An array of colleagues and community members gave him a sendoff worthy of four decades of service. ‘25 years as the chief is almost crazy’ One of the topics that came up repeatedly at the event in honour of Chief Neduzak was the noteworthy (and record-breaking) length of time he served with the Morden Police Service. “40 years at any place ... is a long, respectable career,” said Inspector Aune of the service. “25 years as the chief is almost crazy.” Mayor Nancy Penner, in addition to extending heartfelt thanks from Council to Chief Neduzak for his service to the city, also touched on some numbers in her tribute to the police chief. “When you think about it, the Morden Police Service has been around for 134 years, so Chief Neduzak [has] served 30% of that time,” she said. “Wow.” ‘Professionalism, integrity, and genuine care for people’ Nicole Ridley, Morden’s city manager, added to the figures. She said that over the course of his career, Chief Neduzak has worked with 31 different members of city council, including six mayors and five different city managers. “This is a testament not only to his commitment, but also to the respect and trust he has earned across generations of leadership in this community,” she said. It wasn’t about territories, it was about the betterment of our communities. That’s what I have always respected in Brad — he’s someone who is caring, compassionate, and understanding. I value his professionalism and his friendship. -Jim Mirza, the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, on working with Brad Neduzak. Ridley continued by characterizing Chief Neduzak’s career as one defined by “professionalism, integrity, and a genuine care for people.” “You’ve built a police service that reflects the values of this city — approachable, accountable, and dedicated to building strong community relationships,” she said in her speech. “I want to thank you sincerely for your dedication, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to this city.” Central to the careers of many The length of time that the police chief has served Morden means that through the decades, many people in the community have had the opportunity to work alongside him. Inspector Sean Aune, for instance, spent 25 years of his career with Chief Neduzak at the helm. Special Constable Pam Goertzen, another member of the department, said she worked with him for 28 years. Related stories: ‘It’s that time’: Chief Brad Neduzak of Morden Police Service announces retirement Brad Neduzak Longest Serving Police Chief In Morden's History Sergeant Scott Edwards spoke on this topic. “He's been the constant throughout most of our careers,” he said. “It's not easy. I know it didn't come without challenges, but he's done it with grace, and I'm really going to miss him. He's an extremely respected man, ... not only in Morden, but also within the province of Manitoba.” Embodying good policing Jim Mirza, the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, who was also in attendance at Chief Neduzak’s retirement celebration, can attest to Sergeant Edwards’ point. “My contact with Brad was on a professional level, where he always demonstrated that he was willing to collaborate and work with other police services,” he said. When you work in a place like Morden — when you work with so many people that you enjoy coming to work with each and every day, that makes it worthwhile. -Chief Brad Neduzak reflecting on his 40-year career. “Whenever I needed some sort of assistance or guidance, because he knows the community and he’s a community-based person, I would reach out to [him] and ask, ‘What can you tell me about this?’” In Mirza’s view, policing “is about community and about working together and standing [shoulder-to-shoulder].” For him, Chief Neduzak embodied these principles throughout his career. “It wasn’t about territories, it was about the betterment of our communities,” he said. “That’s what I have always respected in Brad — he’s someone who is caring, compassionate, and understanding. I value his professionalism and his friendship.” A word from the man himself After expressing his thanks to the room of people who came from around the community and beyond it to celebrate his retirement (and remarking on how humbling the number that gathered was), Chief Neduzak also shared gratitude for his family, which has been an essential source of support over the years. “You don't go through a career like this without some good supports in place,” he said. “[My family] was always very, very supportive and always there for me [and my] sounding board a lot of days when things weren't right.” We're going to stay right here in Morden, so I know I'll be seeing a lot of you people over the years. Thank you. I appreciate what Morden and the City of Morden have done for me personally, for our family, and giving us an incredible place to live, work, and socialize. -Chief Brad Neduzak at his retirement celebration. He added the impact of the encouragement he received from his wife, Janet, who was the one that helped convince him he was capable of taking up the police chief role 25 years ago when the position was offered to him. “[I thought], ‘Man, I can't do this. I'm too young. I don't know if I want to get into that,’ and she was there to encourage me,” he said. In the end, Chief Neduzak called his 40-year journey “an incredible” one. “I used to hate when people said how quickly time flies, and 40 years sounds like, and is, a long time, but how quickly that has gone by,” he said. “When you work in a place like Morden — when you work with so many people that you enjoy coming to work with each and every day, that makes it worthwhile.” ‘Thank you’ The police chief added that he and Janet will remain in the city that he has shown he’s passionate about for four decades. “We're going to stay right here in Morden, so I know I'll be seeing a lot of you people over the years,” he said. “Thank you. I appreciate what Morden and the City of Morden have done for me personally, for our family, and giving us an incredible place to live, work, and socialize.” As for life back at the police station, its new chapter moving forward will take time to adjust to. Sergeant Edwards said that for him, Chief Neduzak’s retirement is “a little surreal.” “I think reality will hit when we don't see him around the office anymore, and I think that'll be a hard day for a lot of us,” he said, but he does hold out hope for one thing. “He always was one who was good for a nice dad joke. I hope that he's willing to come back and share those dad jokes with us in his retirement." With files from Robyn Wiebe