Gordon Torrance
Served 1973-1984
Gordon V. Torrance served as Chief of the Hamilton Police Service from 1973 to 1984. He began his career in 1950. Prior to becoming a police officer Gordon led an interesting life which no doubt played a big part in his future success. He was born in 1925 and grew up on his family’s farm in Wallace Township near Listowel, Ontario. The rural farm back then operated without electricity or running water. But even without these amenities the farm was kept immaculate by his father. Gordon saw how hard his father Jack worked to run the farm and keep it well maintained. It instilled in young Gordon his dedication to working hard. It was a skill that would serve him well in the future.
While still in High School the Second World War broke out. At the time young men were expected to help with the war efforts in any way they could. So at 15 years of age Gordon became a deckhand unloading coal carriers at ports on the Great Lakes. He worked his way up to senior deck hand. The Captain of this boat saw the qualities in Gord that would carry him to success later in his career. He was an extremely hard worker and a person with high integrity. The Captain offered to keep him on but the call to service was too great.
In 1942 at the age of 17 he joined the navy in Hamilton at the old Vinegar Works on Stewart St. in Hamilton. While in Hamilton he met Georgina (Joey) Thomson the girl of his dreams. Those dreams would need to be put on hold because he was shipped off to Nova Scotia for war training.
There he learned commando fighting and how to operate giant shipboard guns and to fire torpedoes. He was assigned to the Tribal Class destroyer the HMCS Haida. Prior to this assignment, Gordon had been on another ship but lost his placement when he went on leave to Hamilton to visit Joey. This ship was later torpedoed and the man on board who had taken his position was killed. Gordon would always credit Joey with saving his life.
During the war, the Haida was part of a large convoy that provided defence for the many supply ships destined for Russia. At the time German forces were laying siege to the country and the Russian people were suffering. This convoy to Russia was known as the Murmansk run. It was especially dangerous due to the very rough north seas and relentless pursuit by the German U-boats.
In later years, retelling stories of this mission Gord would often mention how fate intervened again. His main role on the ship was to launch depth charges to thwart the German U-boats. On one occasion he was given the command to launch the depth charges. Several were fired by his mates but for some reason his jammed. It was only learned when the submarine surfaced that it was British. Gordon realized that had his depth charge fired it would have caused considerable damage to the British submarine, no doubt taking many lives in the process.
An interesting side note to his tenure on the Haida is that he received a special medal from the Russian Government at a ceremony at Hamilton City Hall in 1988, 4 years after his retirement. The medal was presented to several former navy personnel who served on the Haida and took part in the Murmansk run. The Russian Government wanted to recognize these men in gratitude for their service.
In 2002 Gordon was on hand as a special guest when the Haida sailed into Hamilton Harbour. The World War II destroyer is now on display for tours at Pier 4.
When the war ended, he was once again asked to stay on by the Captain to start and take officer training. He declined the offer as he wanted to get back to Hamilton and propose to Joey. When he was discharged, he couldn’t wait to return to Hamilton and called her from Halifax and proposed over the phone. They were married in Hamilton in 1945 and settled in a small house on Weir St. in the east end of Hamilton. There they would start a family and have two daughters Lynn and Kathryn.
Gordon’s first job was as an electrician helper with International Harvester. Although he enjoyed the work there were many disruptions at the plant due to ongoing labour issues. These strikes gave him second thoughts about his choice of careers. In 1950 Hamilton Police were recruiting and looking for more officers. With his background and skills, he was hired on the spot. One of his first jobs was to fix and maintain the few traffic lights in the city. At the time this was a role of the police. He was provided with a car to take home and could be called out at any time to fix a malfunctioning traffic light.
Gord’s attention to detail and hard work was recognized by his superiors. In his first 18 months of work he was selected to attend a 6-week RCMP identification course. At the time forensic evidence was just being introduced. There was a need to organize and develop proper methods in the identification department. Gord learned about new techniques both in fingerprint analysis and crime scene photography. 
He established the first 10 finger, single finger, and palm system in Hamilton. The print method was sent to the RCMP for country wide use. By 1953 he was now in charge of the Identification office and in December was promoted to Sergeant at the young age of 28 just 3 years into his career. In the next few years, the identification branch increased in size and importance as methods and training improved. In 1956 Sgt Torrance was made Staff/Sergeant Torrance.
He was the first to hold this new rank in Canada. He was just 32 when he assumed this new position. One of the innovative ideas implemented by St/Sgt. Torrance were 2 mobile police labs which allowed identification officers to attend scenes with all the necessary equipment to do their job in conjunction with the requirements of evidence for court.
In 1959 Gordon Torrance was a given a new challenge by Chief Lawrence. In a Chief’s constable order, St/Sgt. Torrance was give the responsibility of “integrating and installing a Central Records and Intelligence Division for the entire service” Lawrence wanted to reorganize the records branch to encompass Detectives, Morality, Training, Stores, Communication, Safety and Transportation.” This reorganization would provide the foundation to the present system the Hamilton Police Records now employ. In December 1960, Gordon Torrance was promoted to Inspector at the age of 35. At the time he was the youngest ever to obtain this rank.
In 1967, to further his training Chief Lawrence sent Gordon to The FBI in Quantico Virginia for a 12-week course. Once again Gordon showed his skills. He completed course with the highest marks ever obtained by a foreign student. J Edgar Hoover sent a personal note to Chief Lawrence recognizing Inspector Torrance’s achievement. This accomplishment was carried in a brief story in the Hamilton Spectator titled “FBI Lauds City Inspector”.
In 1972 at the age of 47 Inspector Torrance was promoted to Deputy Chief in charge of Operations. Shortly after this promotion Chief Lawrence died. Gordon Torrance would become Chief of Police in 1973 at the age of 48. He would go on to serve in this capacity for the next 12 years retiring in 1984. During his tenure, the Hamilton Police Service would become the Hamilton Wentworth Regional Police Service. It was under Chief Torrance’s tenure when the towns of Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, and Saltfleet were folded into the Hamilton Regional Police Service. This was a huge undertaking but the skills he developed throughout his career certainly assisted in making this reorganization flawless.
Chief Torrance would over-see the building of a new police headquarters which is still in use at 155 King William St. At the time it was state of the art for the Hamilton Police Service. During his tenure Chief Torrance was recognized as one of the leading police administrators in the country. He served as President of the Canadian Chiefs of Police Association in 1979.
Gordon Torrance retired in 1984 and spent most of his summers at his cottage on Georgian Bay just north of Parry Sound. He said that the open water of Georgian Bay reminded him of his time on the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. His beloved Joey died in 1995 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Gordon Torrance died in 2006 at the age of 80. He is remembered for being a gentle and quiet man and one of the finest Police Chiefs in Canada.
By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service