THE Vancouver Police Board announced on Thursday that they had chosen a new chief constable to lead the Vancouver Police Department. He is 28-year veteran VPD Deputy Chief Adam Palmer.

“The Police Board was very pleased that we had two outstanding internal candidates as finalists. Just before the final interviews were conducted, Deputy Chief Constable Doug LePard decided to withdraw and support the selection of his colleague Adam Palmer. Following the final interview completed today, the Police Board decided unanimously that Adam was the right person to lead the VPD,” said the Chair of the Vancouver Police Board Mayor Gregor Robertson.

“We are confident that Chief Constable Adam Palmer will continue the progress of his predecessor Chief Constable Jim Chu, striving to make Vancouver the safest major city in Canada and further enhancing the reputation of the VPD as an excellent police service.”

Retiring Chief Constable Jim Chu says he is looking forward to a smooth transition.

“I am very pleased that we were able to choose a new chief internally and grateful to the eight members of the police board for their careful deliberations. I will work with the new chief with the goal of making the transition as smooth and soon as possible. I would like to thank Deputy Chief Doug LePard for making a difficult personal decision to withdraw and I know he was putting the interests of the VPD first.”

A date for a formal change of command ceremony will be announced shortly.

Deputy Chief Adam Palmer was born and raised in the Vancouver area. Prior to joining the VPD, he studied business administration at Simon Fraser University and worked as a correctional officer. Deputy Palmer began his career with the VPD in 1987 and since that time has worked in a variety of operational, investigative and administrative areas.

He spent the first 13 years of his career working as a patrol officer in East Vancouver. He has also worked in the Jail, the Crowd Control Unit, the Gang Crime Unit, the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, Police / Crown Liaison and the Planning, Research and Audit Section.

As a sergeant, he was extensively involved in the development of the VPD’s Strategic Plan and managed a long-term review of policing operations at the VPD. The Operational Review project examined topical policing issues including the use of overtime, the civilianization of sworn positions, shared services with the City of Vancouver, and the deployment of patrol, investigative and administrative police resources. The Operational Review resulted in improved departmental business practices and the addition of 194 police officers and 95 civilian staff positions between 2005 and 2007. This research has attracted interest from across North America and abroad. Deputy Palmer has been invited to speak to other police agencies and international police conferences on the methodology and findings of this project.

As an inspector, he was the officer-in-charge of Patrol District 2 which includes the Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, Gastown, Strathcona, Grandview-Woodlands and Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhoods. He was also responsible for port and marine policing for the City of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada. During the 2010 Winter Olympics Deputy Palmer was seconded to the Integrated Security Unit as the Venue Commander for the Pacific Coliseum where he oversaw the security for the figure skating and short track speed skating events.

Upon promotion to Deputy Chief in 2010 he was assigned to the Support Services Division where he was responsible for Planning, Research and Audit, Professional Standards, Human Resources, Training, Recruiting, the Jail, Information Management, Information Technology, Communications, Fleet, Facilities, and Finance. He is currently assigned to the Investigation Division where he is responsible for all investigative areas of the VPD including Major Crime, Special Investigations, Organized Crime, General Investigations, Forensic Services, Tactical Support and Youth Services.

Deputy Palmer has completed numerous policing and professional development courses throughout his career. He holds a B.A. (Hons) and has completed two executive leadership programs with the FBI: Leadership in Counter Terrorism and the National Executive Institute. Deputy Palmer sits on the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Board and the Criminology Advisory Committee for Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He is the recipient of nine VPD commendations and is a former Police Officer of the Year. He has been invested as a Member of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces by then-Governor General Michaelle Jean.