From several high-profile investigations, which led to arrests and charges, to expanding community policing initiatives, 2019 was a busy year for the Delta Police Department.
The Optimist sat down recently with Chief Neil Dubord and public affairs coordinator Cris Leykauf to review some of the highlights of the past 12 months and also look ahead to 2020.
Dubord pointed to several notable investigations, including charges in connection to the stabbing of officer John Jasmins at Immaculate Conception School in North Delta. Manoj George will go on trial in March.
From an organized crime perspective, the Brothers Keeper investigation was a huge case for the department, Dubord said.
“Anytime we get a chance to take out mid-level gang dealers was really great work by our detectives and our investigation bureau,” he said.
“The work from our patrol teams on Project Screaming Eagle just recently and being able to deal with that street-level crime that often goes back-and-forth between us and Surrey across the border, that was a really good street-level investigation.”
Dubord also pointed to the work officers are putting in with regards to the multiple arsons in Tsawwassen as well as the Brass Eagle Tattoo Shop in Ladner has been extensive.
“I know we have not made any arrests yet, but they are all very active and we continue to work hard on those,” he said.
The department has expanded its Inadmissible Patron Program to more bars and restaurants throughout Delta. Officers conduct an average of 20 checks per month, ejecting two to three individuals each month.
Volunteers have utilized a new software application for stolen auto checks which resulted in six stolen vehicles recovered in 2019.
The department also launched a domestic violence education awareness and outreach program, joined the integrated forensics team and released the results of a public survey.
“The survey has told us that what we believe are the priorities are just that and that we need to continue to work on those,” he said. “So we know that traffic safety is number one, visibility of our officers is number two and property crime is number three.”
Property crime trended downward in 2019, a decline of two per cent overall. Residential break and enter was down 20 per cent compared to the three-year average and theft from vehicle was down 15 per cent. The only real outlier was theft over/under $5,000, which was up 14 per cent compared to the three-year average.
Connecting with the community has always been a stalwart of the department, and many of the initiatives have been created by the officers themselves. Some of the programs include: the Bend Don’t Break Podcast, implementation of Community Watch, community forums on opioid education, the Yo Bro/Yo Girl program, Halloween candy giveaway, youth soccer camp and youth leadership forum, three-on-three basketball tournament, student police academy and support for Cops for Cancer, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Ride2Survive and Special Olympics.
“It’s about building trust, confidence and respect with both the young and the senior to make sure we meet their needs and when they call the police they know we are there,” Dubord said.
The no-call-too-small initiative also remains a department focus.
Looking ahead to 2020, the department will continue to focus on the mental health and wellness of its staff, work with all levels of government on port, airport, border and ferry security, increase awareness and education around cybercrime, continue its focus on impaired drivingand increase its visibility in the community, among much else.
“I think it’s important to note that we are not standing still. The world continues to develop around us, our community is changing all the time and as that changes our department has to change, be resilient and flexible,” said Dubord.
“Whether it be cybercrime or how we deliver our services in a more efficient manner, or make sure we have the investigative confidence, we will continue to develop the Delta Police Department in a way we know that the community expects us to deliver on the service.”
