Bill Dickson retirement marks end of career bridging police and public
SMITHS FALLS — For 25 years, when the worst happened, Bill Dickson was often the one explaining it.
The Ontario Provincial Police’s media relations coordinator for East Region will retire March 31 after more than two decades in a role that placed him between police operations, public expectation, and the realities of grief, tragedy, and fast-moving investigations.
“It’s mixed feelings,” Dickson said in an interview on March 24 with Hometown News. “I’m still not 100 per cent sure what comes next.”
OPP Superintendent Derek Needham said Dickson is a consummate professional.
“Bill will be deeply missed for his steady presence and unwavering commitment to excellence,” Needham shared with Hometown News on March 24. “In even the most complex and high-pressure situations, he could always be relied upon to bring clarity, calm and sound judgment, leaving a legacy of integrity and trust that will endure.”
Dickson’s path to the OPP was not a straight line. The Nova Scotian began his career in broadcasting, later working with Canadian Blood Services and at Queen’s Park before joining the OPP East Region.
When he arrived, media relations was already evolving.
“I had an opportunity to really sit back and learn the culture of the organization,” he said. “How everything worked, how the structure was, how the processes worked within the OPP and the court system.”
That foundation shaped how he approached a job that required constant judgment about what could be said and what had to wait.
“I tried to always push it right up to the line,” he said. “Tell the media everything you can, but then be prepared to tell them why you can’t tell them anything else.”
Over the years, Dickson said the most difficult moments involved officer deaths and fatal collisions, particularly when they involved people he knew.
“It just makes it a real tough act to deal with,” he said.
A growing priority in recent years has been ensuring families are notified before details are made public.
“We don’t want somebody finding out about the death of a loved one by seeing it on social media,” he said.
That reality shapes how and when information is released, especially in the early stages of an investigation. Initial communications often focus on public safety, such as road closures or detours, before more detailed information is confirmed and next of kin are notified.
Behind the familiar phrase “no further details will be released,” Dickson said there are often practical and human considerations at play.
“We may not have had a chance to talk to the lead investigator, or we haven’t confirmed all the details,” he said. “Or we haven’t made sure family members are aware.”
The job has also changed alongside the media landscape.
Dickson said there is less local media than there once was, and fewer follow-up questions, even when information is incomplete.
“There’s more likelihood now that we put out a media release and you see it cut and pasted,” he said. “Everybody’s moving from one story to another.”
At the same time, the rise of social media and artificial intelligence has introduced new challenges, including misinformation, scams, and altered images or video.
“I virtually believe in nothing that I see on the internet anymore,” he said.
Police communications teams now work to correct misinformation when they see it, while also using their own platforms to share accurate information.
Scams are more prevalent than ever, and Dickson said only about five per cent are reported, as victims are often embarrassed to come forward.
“We try to make sure that on our platforms, we’re putting out as much accurate information as we can,” he said.
Despite the pressures, Dickson said the work has been rewarding.
“I would do it all over again,” he said.
He also spent time at OPP general headquarters, leading media relations at the provincial level, where he helped shape policy and communication approaches.
“I was setting policy and we were breaking new ground,” he said. “Being part of that was amazing.”
As he prepares to leave the role, there are parts he will not miss.
“I’ve been on call for pretty much 25 years,” he said. “I will not miss waiting for the phone to ring.”
But the work itself, and the people, will be harder to step away from.
“I’ll miss the interaction,” he said. “I’m one of those people, I love a good crisis, where you jump in, deal with it, and then sit back and go, ‘We did a good job.’”
One moment that stands out is the 2023 search for a missing child in eastern Ontario, which ended with the child found alive.
“I still get goosebumps,” he said.
Dickson, who has two children and lives in Smiths Falls, said he is not planning to leave the area and is not done staying active.
He said he would also consider lending a hand in the community, especially with Special Olympics, an organization he has supported for years through the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
“I still love the Special Olympics’ motto, which is, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,’” he said. “If we could all live with that kind of philosophy, I think the world would be a much better place.”
Looking back, he credits a mix of opportunity and effort for a career that took him from broadcast radio to leading communications for one of the largest police services in the country.
“I won the job lottery,” he said. “But it was hard work and perseverance.”
In the months ahead, Dickson said he plans to spend more time on the hiking trails with his dog.
“I’m not ready to sit on the front porch and watch the sunset.”
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