Retired York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe lives by 'Deeds Speak' motto

Jolliffe has contributed to community in myriad ways over his 40-year law enforcement career

Yorkregion.com
August 7, 2020

Born and raised in York Region, Chief Eric Jolliffe began his career with the Edmonton Police Service in 1979 at the age of 22. In 1981, he returned to York Region and joined York Regional Police (YRP). Over his 40-year career, Chief Jolliffe has served in a variety of administrative and operational roles before being appointed to the Chief of Police on December 13, 2010.

In 2016, Chief Jolliffe received the Outstanding Achievement Award from Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Canada/York Region, in 2017, the Public Service Award from the Transformation Institute for Leadership & Innovation and, in 2018, the President's Award for Leadership from Ontario Women in Law Enforcement.

Under his leadership, York Regional Police was selected as one of the Greater Toronto's Top 100 Employers for five years running, including 2020. Also, in 2018, 2019, and 2020, York Regional Police was recognized at the national level as a Top Employer for young people.

In June of 2018, Chief Jolliffe was acknowledged in the Transformation Institute for Leadership and Innovation's book, 150 Extraordinary Canadians: Our Leadership and Innovation Legacy, for his contribution to the success of our great nation.

Deeds Speak, the motto of YRP, is what drives him daily. It means actions speak louder than words, which he strives to live by every day. He’s spent years encouraging all YRP members to keep this top of mind in their day-to-day interactions with citizens and each other. To Chief Jolliffe, the maxim Deeds Speak encompasses his organization’s tenets of professionalism, compassion, fairness, courage, and respect into one simple phrase that can be used as a base in developing personal and community values.

One of the many meaningful moments in recent years for Chief Jolliffe, was seeing the proceeds of the 2018 YRP Golf Tournament directed to the Yellow Brick House. Chief Jolliffe has seen first-hand the physical and emotional toll victims of domestic violence suffer. Vulnerable women and children need a place of safety and ongoing social support to end the cycle of violence. Providing stable, four-year funding for shelter beds is a tangible support that makes a substantial difference. YRP continues to assist the Yellow Brick House in a variety of capacities.

Chief Jolliffe attends countless fundraisers, galas, and events in support of social services needs in York Region. What touches him the most is the gratitude and appreciation shown by those who have received assistance or a helpful leg up. The letters of thanks from some of the 3,000 families who received holiday packages through YRP’s Holiday Heroes campaign, for example, he says would bring tears to your eyes.

Chief Jolliffe is married, with two children and three grandchildren, with whom he enjoys spending time whenever he can.

For the past eleven years, Portraits of Giving by Merk Photography has been creating awareness and inspiring our community to start or keep giving back through photography, stories, education, and thought leadership about the importance of corporate and social responsibility in York Region.

For more information about Portraits of Giving or Karen Merk, visit www.merkphotography.com