WPS Remembers Chief Opthof

Wednesday, 8 January 2025 at 11:05

Joseph "Joe" Opthof served as the Chief of Woodstock Police and the Oxford Community Police Service.

WOODSTOCK - The Woodstock Police Service is mourning the loss of another former Police Chief.

Joseph "Joe" Opthof passed away on January 3rd, one day after his 78th birthday, after a battle with heart disease.

He dedicated almost 33 years to the police service and ended his career as the Chief of Woodstock Police and the Oxford Community Police Service from 1997 to 1999.

Current Woodstock Police Chief Rod Wilkinson remembers him from the early days of his career.

"My first interview in Woodstock was with Joe Opthof. It was just me and him alone in the boardroom and apparently, he was happy with that interview so he pushed me off to an interview in Norwich Township for the next day."

He remembers Opthof as being a kind and caring individual.

"Joe was very soft-spoken, kind, compassionate, he was easy to talk to, and he had an open door policy. He was just a friendly person all around. I didn't see it, so I don't know if he ever got angry."

Chief Wilkinson says he played a big role in the creation of the Oxford Community Police Service back in 1999 after Woodstock Police amalgamated with the Townships of Norwich, Zorra, and Blandford-Blenheim.

"He was the Chief at the time to expand our police service and hire about 10 or 12 more officers and come up with the funding for county policing. It was a different way of doing things than working in the City, officers had to get used to travelling the country and working in the country. But it would have come at a big price in regards to new branding and getting the finances."

The Oxford Community Police Service lasted about 10 years and became the Woodstock Police Service again in 2009.

Opthof's visitation and celebration of life will be taking place at Brock and Visser Funeral Home this weekend. You can find the exact times listed in his obituary online here.

Chief Wilkinson says there will be a Woodstock Police presence there, similar to the funeral for Chief Joe Moses this past November.