Robert (Bob) Maxwell
Served 1973-2005
Robert “Bob” Maxwell was a very personable and charismatic character as anyone who met him can easily testify. I certainly knew him for years but mostly through social events such as golf or volunteering but we never did work together. Bob first worked on Foot Patrol at Central Station and then in Stoney Creek for Inspector Brian Shennan. Bob became a Patrol Sergeant down there. He was then transferred into the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). He did work in the Intelligence Office and later the Fraud Office (Bunko Squad). It was here that Bob began to work for Superintendent Milt Zimmerman. They formed a very productive and successful working unit.
Bob was promoted to Staff Sergeant and then went down to the East End Station following his time in the Fraud Office. About this time Bob was golfing more, often with Retiree Ian James. They always wanted to get in something called a “Best Ball” tournament. Ian and Bob would drink, while the other two golfers had to be excellent golfers. When they were winners at the end Bob would take all the ‘credit’.
One night he discovered that the Police Ride Lanes were giving away free tickets to a Bull Dog Hockey Game. Bob drove through the Ride Lanes three times so that he could earn six tickets and take all his friends to the game.
Bob Maxwell, Steve Ellis and Gene Williams bought the old Horse Wagon from the Hamilton Police Association around 1980 and for about 20 years they spent their own money repairing and displaying it. In 1998 they sold it to the Hamilton Police Service.
Bob became the Sergeant Major of the Police Honour Guard.
Around 1980 Bob Maxwell and Jim Hoyle Jr. were working in the Fraud Office. Their then Staff Sergeant Milt Zimmerman decided the Police Service should have a trained Honour Guard. According to Jim Hoyle, Zimmerman “Voluntold” Maxwell, Hoyle, Brian Mullan and others in the Fraud Office to form this new Unit.
Bob was the leader of the Honour Guard for the Police Service at many special events, for a long time. He continued to direct them for some time after he retired. The Police Service was forever a better place because of his work, training and leadership with this group.
Remembrance Day in Hamilton with Peter Abi-Rashed
From Ottawa and the annual ceremony to honour fallen Officers
Remembrance Parade, year unknown with Bob leading the Hamilton Pipe Band
Police Memorial Parade Ottawa, with Joe Morelli and Peter Abi-Rashed
In 1985 Milt Zimmerman, Bob Maxwell, Brian Mullan and a golf friend John Dixon began the “Bunko Classic”, a charitable golf tournament. Between 1985 and 2015 when it finally ended. There were many different volunteers who had worked on this tournament with Bob over the years. They raised about $200,000 in profits and gave it all to local Charities
Bob loved his Hot Rod and would buy parts at Princess Auto Body. Ian remembers that Bob would always go down to Princess Auto Body and buy anything that was on sale. The problem was that often he didn’t need what he was buying. Later found a lot of equipment he never opened, from the store.
Ian remembers once they were marching at the Ontario Police Memorial Parade. Bob stopped the whole Guard and moved Ian from the outside line to an inner position. He told Ian this was because he didn’t want anyone to be able to see just how bad Ian was marching.
After he retired Bob increased the amount of volunteering he was doing.
He worked to help the Hamilton Out of the Cold dinners
down at the Cathedral on James North for several years.
Bob left behind a fiancée, Nancy Cooper, two daughters Kathleen and Kristine
and a granddaughter Abigail and they all loved him very much.
By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service