Guelphs former deputy police chief Don Porterfield passes away [Video]

Don Porterfield, the former deputy chief of the Guelph Police Service, has died.

He passed away on Jan. 2 at Guelph General Hospital after a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurodegenerative disease affecting movement, vision and the ability to swallow.

Porterfield joined the Guelph Police Service in 1971 and worked his way up to deputy chief, a role he took over in 2001. In total, he spent 34 years with the force.

“His contributions to the service and community are immeasurable,” said the Guelph Police Service in a media release.

They added that Porterfield’s oldest son, Darryl, is a former member of the Guelph Police Service and is now an Ontario Provincial Police sergeant. His daughter-in-law Lindsay is also a Guelph Police constable.

“He cherished the lifelong friendships he made throughout his career and in various roles,” Porterfield’s family wrote in his obituary. “He loved his community …