As we settle into a new year, Delta's police chief took time out to reflect on the year that was and to look ahead to 2016.
Neil Dubord was sworn in June 29, replacing Jim Cessford, who retired last February after leading the department for 20 years.
"It's been a wonderful seven months," Dubord said of his time in Delta so far, adding he has enjoyed getting to know the community and its residents. Last year started off with a "real bang" for the department, he said, with Delta's first homicide on Jan. 2. A 24-year-old Surrey man, Arundeep Cheema, was fatally shot while sitting in his vehicle in the driveway of a North Delta home.
A year later Cheema's death remains unsolved but the investigation is active and ongoing, Dubord said.
The shooting was one of more than 60 in Surrey and North Delta last year, although only five took place in Delta, three of which were at the same house. The area hasn't seen a shooting since early April.
"Our staff has done an amazing job in stopping shootings in the community," said Dubord, who had been chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police prior to arriving in Delta.
He said the department is trying to take a proactive approach to dealing with the violence. Officers are still doing outreach work in the area and a special enforcement car has been assigned to Scott Road. Officers are also working with bars and restaurants in the area to deter possible gang-related activities. A highlight for the department this summer, Dubord said, was the announcement from the Crown that it had stayed the second-degree murder charge against Const. Jordan MacWilliams.
MacWilliams was charged after an onduty shooting in 2012 when, as a member of the Municipal Integrated Emergency Response Team, he responded to a hostage taking at the Starlight Casino in New Westminster.
Also over the summer, police discovered a drug lab in a South Delta home while responding to calls of a break and enter. The lab was allegedly producing a highly concentrated form of marijuana known as shatter at the home in a quiet Tsawwassen neighbourhood.
"That was unusual, certainly for the Tsawwassen community," Dubord said.
The chief said the summer was a busy time for the department with all the community activities, such as Tour de Delta, Tsawwassen Sun Festival and Ladner May Days.
Dubord said he took every opportunity to get out, enjoy the festivities and meet people.
He said the department also took part in several annual events, raising record amounts for Cops for Cancer, Special Olympics, the United Way and Pulling Together.
As summer turned into fall, he said, the department saw a spike in property crimes, particularly in South Delta. Officers were able to arrest two groups of people in relation to many of the crimes, and that seemed put a stop to much of that activity.
Dubord said officers heard directly from thieves that South Delta neighbourhoods are often targeted because many people can afford higher end items and often leave expensive items and garage door openers in unlocked vehicles.
"It's really crimes of opportunity," he said.
Delta saw three traffic fatalities in 2015, the latest being an elderly pedestrian hit in early December while crossing at the corner of 56th Street and 12th Avenue in Tsawwassen.
Dubord said he was impressed to see the reaction from the local Community Police Station offices. Volunteers were out in force following the incident giving out reflectors and safety tips to pedestrians.
The chief said the department saw 22,738 calls for service as of the end of November, which is slightly higher than 2014. And it's a trend he expects to see continue. The addition of South Fraser Perimeter Road makes it easier for criminals to get into Delta, he said, and the area will see an influx of visitors with mega malls opening this year at the Tsawwassen First Nation.
This year is shaping up to be a busy one for the department.
Dubord said he would like to really integrate the CoPS offices into the communities. Each community in Delta has a community police station, staffed almost entirely by volunteers, and the chief said he would like to see those offices become a central part of each community.
Three members, all with more than 35 years' experience, have recently or will be retiring, including deputy Chief Rich Drinovz, who retired last month.
"We're going to be hiring a new deputy chief in the early part of the new year," he said.
Internally, the department will work with employees and the police foundation to develop an employee wellness program to ensure officers are adequately coping with the demands of the job.
"They go to some horrific stuff," Dubord said, adding that it can affect many aspects of an officer's life.
The department will also work to strengthen its relationship with the Tsawwassen First Nation. Saying the force already has a good partnership with the First Nation, Dubord said the area is in the midst of tremendous growth that will bring an influx of people and traffic.
He said there is a lot of planning that will go on, especially with regards to the opening of the malls.
"The opening of the malls shouldn't disrupt how people go about their daily lives," he said.
