Deputy Chief Harj Sidhu has been appointed chief constable of the Delta Police Department, and will assume command this Monday (Nov. 25).
The Delta Police Board announced Sidhu's appointment Thursday afternoon (Nov. 21) via a DPD press release.
“We are thrilled to announce Harj Sidhu as our new chief,” board chair Ian Tait said in a press release. “With 31 years of dedicated service to our community and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Chief Sidhu brings a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge and visionary leadership to this role.
"This historic promotion — our first internal appointment to chief in 38 years and the first South Asian chief for Delta — reflects the strength of our department and our confidence in Chief Sidhu's ability to lead us into the future while continuing to foster trust, safety and collaboration with the community.”
The nation-wise search for the DPD's new chief constable was led by PFM Executive Search, a third-party professional search firm, on behalf of the board following the retirement of former chief Neil Dubord on Aug. 1. Dubord had led the department since June of 2015, after three years as Metro Vancouver Transit Police's chief officer and a 25-year career with the Edmonton Police Sevice.
The process attracted numerous highly qualified candidates from across the country, the release states. In the end, the board ultimately chose to give Sidhu the top job.
The release noted an announcement regarding a change of command ceremony will be "forthcoming."
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According to a bio included with Thursday's announcement, Harjinder (Harj) Singh Sidhu began his policing career in 1993 as a recruit constable with the DPD. Over the years, he gained extensive experience in a wide range of roles, including time served as a constable in the patrol division, youth section and investigations.
He rose through the ranks, leading the drug/special projects unit as a sergeant and later serving as a staff sergeant in both the patrol division and investigative services. As an inspector, Sidhu oversaw investigative support services, the operational support branch and special projects.
In 2018, he was promoted to superintendent of the community policing bureau, where he led all uniformed operations for the DPD. In 2021, he assumed the role of deputy chief of the community policing bureau, a position he held until his promotion to chief constable.
"Throughout his career, Chief Sidhu has been dedicated to a community-first approach to policing, prioritizing community safety and well-being," his bio states. "He is actively involved in several external committees, including serving as co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police community safety and well-being committee, co-chair of the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP) diversity and inclusion committee, and co-chair of the BCACP body worn cameras special committee."
For his contributions to policing, Sidhu was made a Member of Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2022. The order, established in 2000 and awarded by the governor general on behalf of the Crown, honours leadership and exceptional service or distinctive merit by members of Canadian police services, with a primary focus on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.
"I am deeply honoured and grateful to the Delta Police Board for placing their trust in me to lead this incredible organization as its next chief — a place I’ve been privileged to call home for the past 31 years,” Sidhu said in Thursday's press release. “I am inspired daily by the dedication and professionalism of our people, and it is truly an honour to now lead such an exceptional team.
“As chief, my focus will be on working collaboratively with the board, our officers, civilian staff and volunteers, community partners and residents to ensure Delta remains one of the safest places to live, work and play. Together, we will build on our strong foundation, strengthening trust and building on our shared commitment to community safety and well-being."
In its release, the board thanked interim chief Guy Leeson for his leadership during the transition period.
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