Since Sergeant Christopher Grantham was a child, he knew he wanted to be a police officer. His dream was simple – to help victims of crime and arrest those who victimize.
What happened next was a dream come true as he was brought on as a recruit for the city he was born and raised in – Brantford.
“I began my career as a police officer to serve my community and give back to my hometown. I love the people in this community,” said Sgt. Grantham.
Grantham remembers one of his first patrol shifts as a member of the Brantford Police, now over 20 years ago, where he would walk the downtown and see boarded up storefronts. Fortunately, it is no longer the vision he sees when he patrols. He has been pleasantly surprised with how the downtown has developed and grown. There are new businesses moving in and many students at Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College.
“The downtown has undergone drastic changes in my lifetime. The area is busy with students at Wilfrid Laurier University and community members coming to the specialty shops in the area.”
Now in charge of the BEAT unit downtown, Sgt. Grantham is immersed in the area, often on foot. He is no stranger to the perception that exists about the downtown being unsafe, from the perspective of a police officer and a young person who grew up in the city.
“Our downtown is no different than other sections of our city. Like other communities, many of our social services are in the core, which draws vulnerable persons to the area for assistance. Occasionally, the actions of a few individuals may cause concern, but our dedicated BEAT officers are invested in the safety of our downtown.”
Sgt. Grantham has a sense of pride for his hometown, Brantford and is pleased to see the downtown transforming more each day. “I like the diversity of our community in the core the best. I am proud to serve my community and I will do my part to ensure it continues to remain a safe place.”
