Anishinabek Police Constable switches to life-long learner
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY—After many years of service to the community, Constable Ken Dokis has retired. A retirement social for Dokis took place at the Davidi Club November 26. Family, friends and co-workers from the Anishinabek Police Service packed the venue to wish him well in his next life adventure.
Dokis was taken aback by the wonderful things people had to say as he closes his career. North Bay Mayor Al McDonald presented him with a plaque to honour his policing efforts. North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine spoke warmly about Dokis who reciprocated. “The North Bay Police were always there when needed.”
West Nipissing Police and the Anishinabek Police Service (APS) often work collectively on various projects. West Nipissing Police Chief Chuck Sequin hailed the importance Dokis has been to policing.
Employed by the Union of Ontario Indians, Dokis was the coordinator who developed the Anishinabek Police Service, Wikwemikong Police Service, and the UCCM Police Service- of the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising in M’Chigeeng.
At the time, Dokis didn’t grasp the significance of his work.
“I didn’t really realize the huge impact it was going to have within our communities and our nation. Nearly 25 years after, I see the positive effects,” stated Dokis.“It fills me with pride to know that I had such an integral role in developing those police services. I think police officers who have served in First Nations police services truly deserve a huge pat on the back for a job well done. We not only provided law and security within the communities, but we also served as guides and educators on the law. We also brought in a strong sense of professionalism.”
The APS is always represented as a community organization during Nipissing First Nation events. The APS booths and tables are frequented with children joking, laughing, and saying hello. The community has faith in their police.
“We had to gain the trust of a new generation. Because of past relationships with policing, we first had to work at gaining the trust,” noted Dokis. “We’ve had the biggest impact on the millennial generation.”
Dokis believes domestic and family violence has declined tremendously.
“Now our people can educate and learn freely without a sense of fear,” added Dokis.
A career memory of making a difference involved a young teenage girl.
“One of the biggest moments that stand out goes back to the early years of my career. This girl was originally from Wikwemikong and had lived in the city,” recalled Dokis. “She moved to our community with several charges of shop-lifting. On one event she had broken into a neighbour’s house and taken cookies, nothing of true value, just cookies. So the people who owned the home did not want to see her charged, just spoken to.”
“I actually talked her into going to the house and apologizing. You must remember this was a different time. That’s when a lot of the Native children held their heads low,” continued Dokis. “Well, she went there and she apologized for going into the home. I brought her back home and explained to her about the wrongful doings of taking things that don’t belong to her. I never had another problem with her again.
“About 15 years later, this woman I didn’t recognize bumped into me at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre,” added Dokis. “She brought her husband over to me and said to him, ‘This is the man I told you about who changed my life’. That was the girl.”
Retired Constable Dokis is going to rest up over the holidays, but won’t be sitting around for long. He has plans to get busy in the New Year.
“I’m looking at a part-time job where I’ll have satisfaction working closely with people,” noted Dokis.
Furthering his education is in his plans as well.