Chief William Wotherspoon:

Written by: Dennis Hogan

Bill Wotherspoon was born in 1925 in Dunfermline, Culross County, Fifeshire, Scotland, where the main industry, after whiskey making, was digging coal out of the ground.

He settled with his family in the North Bay area and they took up residence in North Bay proper in 1938.

He was appointed to the North Police Force as a constable on March 1947.

Bill was promoted to Sergeant in 1952; Staff Sergeant in 1957; Inspector in 1962; Deputy Chief in 1966; and Chief of Police in June of 1967. In March 1987 Bill completed 40 years of service with the North Bay Police Force, 20 of those as Chief of Police.

During the years 1947 to 1987, the North Bay Force grew from a compliment of 15 to a total authorized strength of 112. Eighty-seven of these were sworn personnel. On January 1, 1968, two townships were annexed, with their indigenous police forces, which resulted in a total policing area of 130 square miles and a population of 52,000.

This Chief, during his service with the this Force, had been involved in all aspects of police work.