Delta Police Department
Encyclopedia
The Delta Police Department (DPD) is the police force for the district municipality of Delta, British Columbia
, a suburban community in Metro Vancouver with a population of 102,661. In 2008, Delta Police had 166 sworn members and 65 civilian support staff and an operating budget of $25,921,000.
In 2007, DPD became responsible for policing the Tsawwassen First Nation
through an agreement between the nation and the provincial and federal government. Under the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement Act, the first nation does not have the power to establish a police force on their own, but are able to do so by requesting the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The nation chose to employ the DPD in enforcing its laws.
It was in 1858 that Governor James Douglas appointed William Ladner as the first Constable of New Caledonia. William Ladner later went on to found the community of Ladner’s Landing, which became the hub of the Municipality of Delta, British Columbia on November 10, 1879.
On August 20, 1887 William McKee, the Municipal Clerk, was designated as a Constable in addition to his duties as a Clerk. On July 7, 1888, Joseph Jordan was appointed as Delta’s first full time constable, and with this appointment the Delta Municipal Police Department was formed. Over the next eight years Joseph Jordan was dismissed and re-appointed several times, depending on the department’s needs and was assisted on occasion by other temporary Constables.
By 1900, Joseph Jordan had been designated as the Chief Constable and worked full time in this role until his retirement in 1911.
The Chief Constable’s position remained the only regular full-time or part-time position until 1931, when the municipal council authorized the appointment of a night policeman. It was the duty of this policeman, whose salary was partly paid for by the local merchants, to patrol the streets of Ladner at night.
The 1950s was a decade of growth for the Delta Police Department. Membership increased to 11 police officers, and the police station began operating on a 24 hour a day basis.
By 1971 the police department had grown to 45 police officers, due to the growth in community population after the opening of the George Massey Tunnel.
and New Westminster Police Service
. On January 26, 2009, the Vancouver Police Department
cleared the Delta police officer of any wrongdoing and in a news conference, said he tried to intervene to stop the alleged attack but the other two officers were recommended to Crown Counsel for criminal charges to be laid. On February 27, 2009, Crown Counsel announced the DPD officer offered new information and was willing to testify against the other two officers, which lead to an additional charge laid against Cst. Jeffrey Roger Klassen of NWPS.
Bob Rich, the Chief Constable of Abbotsford Police Department
will conduct an independent investigation into the incident against the DPD officer under the Police Act.
On November 2, 1974 Staff Sergeant Ron McKay was shot and killed by Elery Long. This incident occurred when Staff Sergeant McKay attended Long’s residence to speak to him regarding a confrontation that occurred earlier in the day at a local gas station. On May 27, 1975 Long was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On July 14, 1976 Long’s death sentence, along with the death sentences of ten other people convicted of murdering peace officers, were converted to life sentences. In 2002 Elery Long was granted full parole which has since been revoked following repeated contacts with police.
On April 8, 2000 Constable Mark Nieuwenhuis was killed in a tragic police motorcycle accident. The investigation revealed that Constable Nieuwenhuis was attempting to stop a vehicle at the time of the accident. A suspect has never been officially named.
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
, a suburban community in Metro Vancouver with a population of 102,661. In 2008, Delta Police had 166 sworn members and 65 civilian support staff and an operating budget of $25,921,000.
In 2007, DPD became responsible for policing the Tsawwassen First Nation
Tsawwassen First Nation
The Tsawwassen First Nation is a First Nations government whose only Indian reserve is located in the Greater Vancouver area of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the South Arm of the Fraser River and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and just north of the international...
through an agreement between the nation and the provincial and federal government. Under the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement Act, the first nation does not have the power to establish a police force on their own, but are able to do so by requesting the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The nation chose to employ the DPD in enforcing its laws.
History
The history of the Delta Police Department is closely tied to the first organized policing presence in British Columbia’s history.It was in 1858 that Governor James Douglas appointed William Ladner as the first Constable of New Caledonia. William Ladner later went on to found the community of Ladner’s Landing, which became the hub of the Municipality of Delta, British Columbia on November 10, 1879.
On August 20, 1887 William McKee, the Municipal Clerk, was designated as a Constable in addition to his duties as a Clerk. On July 7, 1888, Joseph Jordan was appointed as Delta’s first full time constable, and with this appointment the Delta Municipal Police Department was formed. Over the next eight years Joseph Jordan was dismissed and re-appointed several times, depending on the department’s needs and was assisted on occasion by other temporary Constables.
By 1900, Joseph Jordan had been designated as the Chief Constable and worked full time in this role until his retirement in 1911.
The Chief Constable’s position remained the only regular full-time or part-time position until 1931, when the municipal council authorized the appointment of a night policeman. It was the duty of this policeman, whose salary was partly paid for by the local merchants, to patrol the streets of Ladner at night.
The 1950s was a decade of growth for the Delta Police Department. Membership increased to 11 police officers, and the police station began operating on a 24 hour a day basis.
By 1971 the police department had grown to 45 police officers, due to the growth in community population after the opening of the George Massey Tunnel.
Controversy
On January 21, 2009, three off duty police officers were arrested and detained overnight after being alleged to racially abuse, assault and participated in a robbery in downtown Vancouver against Firoz Khan, a newspaper deliveryman. The police constables came from the Delta Police Department, West Vancouver Police DepartmentWest Vancouver Police Department
West Vancouver Police Department is a police force for the district municipality of West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Organization:...
and New Westminster Police Service
New Westminster Police Service
The New Westminster Police Service is the police force for the City of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.The force was created in 1873 when the city council hired Jonathan Morey, a former sergeant with the Royal Engineers, Columbia detachment who stayed behind after the detachment was...
. On January 26, 2009, the Vancouver Police Department
Vancouver Police Department
The Vancouver Police Department is the police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Area and is the second largest police force in the province after RCMP "E" Division.VPD was the first Canadian police force...
cleared the Delta police officer of any wrongdoing and in a news conference, said he tried to intervene to stop the alleged attack but the other two officers were recommended to Crown Counsel for criminal charges to be laid. On February 27, 2009, Crown Counsel announced the DPD officer offered new information and was willing to testify against the other two officers, which lead to an additional charge laid against Cst. Jeffrey Roger Klassen of NWPS.
Bob Rich, the Chief Constable of Abbotsford Police Department
Abbotsford Police Department
Abbotsford Police Department is the police force for the City of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The force was established in 1955 as the Matsqui Police Department and was renamed the Abbotsford Police Department when Matsqui and Abbotsford amalgamated in 1995 to become the City of Abbotsford...
will conduct an independent investigation into the incident against the DPD officer under the Police Act.
On duty deaths
While the Delta Police Department has grown, and had many successes over the years, it has not been without tragedy.On November 2, 1974 Staff Sergeant Ron McKay was shot and killed by Elery Long. This incident occurred when Staff Sergeant McKay attended Long’s residence to speak to him regarding a confrontation that occurred earlier in the day at a local gas station. On May 27, 1975 Long was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On July 14, 1976 Long’s death sentence, along with the death sentences of ten other people convicted of murdering peace officers, were converted to life sentences. In 2002 Elery Long was granted full parole which has since been revoked following repeated contacts with police.
On April 8, 2000 Constable Mark Nieuwenhuis was killed in a tragic police motorcycle accident. The investigation revealed that Constable Nieuwenhuis was attempting to stop a vehicle at the time of the accident. A suspect has never been officially named.
See also
- Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British ColumbiaCombined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British ColumbiaThe Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit - British Columbia was established in 2004 to facilitate the disruption and suppression of organized crime in BC and to support municipal police department when public safety is deemed to be a priority...
- E-CommE-Comm' is the Emergency Communications for Southwest British Columbia.E-Comm provides 9-1-1 service for the Lower Mainland region of southwest British Columbia in Canada covering Metro Vancouver , the Sunshine Coast Regional District, south Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and the Whistler Howe Sound...
, 9-1-1 call and dispatch centre for Southwestern BC