Since 2015, Chief Constable Adam Palmer has led the sworn and civilian members of the Vancouver Police Department. At his side are three Deputy Chief Constables, each leading their own Division: DCC Howard Chow, DCC Steve Rai, and DCC Fiona Wilson.
As of 2023, the VPD has 462 civilian employees and 1,448 sworn officers.
Chief Constable Adam Palmer, C.O.M.
Chief Constable Adam Palmer took command as the 31st Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department on May 6th, 2015. Chief 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. Chief 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 professional positions between 2005 and 2007. This research has attracted interest from across North America and abroad. Chief 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, Chief Palmer was seconded to the RCMP 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 was then assigned to the Investigation Division where he was responsible for all investigative areas of the VPD including Major Crime, Special Investigations, Organized Crime, General Investigations, Forensic Services, Tactical Support, and Youth Services.
Chief Palmer has completed numerous policing and professional development courses throughout his career. He holds a bachelor of arts degree (Hons) and has completed two executive leadership programs with the FBI: Leadership in Counter-Terrorism (LinCT) and the National Executive Institute (NEI).
Chief Palmer was President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) from 2018-2020 and served on the CACP Board of Directors as Past President until August 2022. He served on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) from 2018 to 2020. In January 2019, Chief Palmer was elected to and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), which represents the largest police departments in the United States and Canada. Chief Palmer also serves as Chair of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) Board of Directors, is a member of the National Executive Committee for the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada (CISC), the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Board of Directors, and the Criminology Advisory Committee for Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He is also a former Board member of the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN). In 2023, Chief Palmer became a Board Member for the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a police research and policy organization.
In 2009, Chief Palmer was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, and in 2017 was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. In 2020, in recognition of the national and international scope of his service and leadership, the Governor General of Canada advanced Chief Palmer to the highest rank within the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, the rank of Commander. In 2021, Chief Palmer received the Major Cities Chiefs Association Leadership Award, the first Canadian police officer to receive this honour. In 2022, he received the CACP’s Recognition Award for developing a national mentorship program for police executive leaders. He is the recipient of nine Vancouver Police Department Commendations and is a former VPD Police Officer of the Year.
Adam Palmer, C.O.M.
Deputy Chief Constable Howard Chow, O.O.M.
Deputy Chief Howard Chow was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and moved to BC in 1985 to attend Simon Fraser University where he completed a bachelor of arts degree in criminology.
Deputy Chief Chow began his career with the VPD in 1989, and he has had many roles at various ranks throughout the city. He was part of the Crowd Control Unit for 12 years in the early ’90s, most recently as a Public Order Commander, and attended a highly regarded training centre in the UK, completing Silver-Bronze and Gold Commander courses.
As a dog handler, Deputy Chief Chow spent almost nine years working and training two police dogs, Samson and Jackal. Together, they were responsible for the arrest and capture of hundreds of criminals.
In 2004, Deputy Chief Chow became the Department’s media spokesperson, and for four years addressed reporters at daily press conferences on issues related to the VPD. He was one of two sergeants in charge of the Recruiting Unit, tasked with hiring over 200 members leading up to the 2010 Olympics. He led progressive and creative initiatives, such as using social media for recruiting — making VPD the first major police department in Canada to do so — and helped revolutionize conventional policing methods for attracting quality applicants.
Deputy Chief Chow was assigned to the Integrated Riot Investigation Team in 2011, and the team pursued charges against rioters who participated in the Vancouver hockey riot. His communications background and his connections with the media helped support successful investigative strategies.
In 2012, he was a Staff Sergeant in the Traffic Section, followed by a promotion to Inspector in charge of Facilities, overseeing the security and management of 11 police buildings.
As the Inspector in charge of District 2 in 2014, he oversaw 200 police officers in the northeast area of Vancouver, the officers of the Beat Enforcement Team in the Downtown Eastside, and the Marine Unit.
In 2016, Deputy Chief Chow was promoted to Superintendent, Personnel Services, in charge of the Human Resources Section, the Professional Standards Section, and the Training and Recruiting Section.
He was promoted to Deputy Chief in September of 2017 and is in charge of the Operations Division.
Deputy Chief Chow is the current Chair of the Vancouver Police Community Fund. In 2017, he completed a master of arts in criminal justice from the University of the Fraser Valley.
Deputy Chief Chow is the recipient of six VPD commendations and was honoured with the 125th Canadian Confederation of Canada medal in 1993. He has been married to his wife, Angie, for over 20 years.
Howard Chow, O.O.M.
Deputy Chief Constable Steve Rai, O.O.M.
Deputy Chief Constable Steve Rai was born in Punjab, India, and immigrated to Vancouver with his family at a young age. Prior to joining the Vancouver Police Department, he served with the Canadian Forces Reserves while also completing his bachelor of arts degree in Asian studies at the University of British Columbia. He then went on to further his education with a master of arts in criminal justice from the University of the Fraser Valley.
Deputy Chief Rai began his career with the VPD in 1990, working for eight years as a frontline patrol constable in District 3, with duties that included field training and mentoring new police officers. He also drew on his cultural background to work extensively, at the street level, with the District’s ethnically diverse communities.
Deputy Chief Rai also completed assignments in Court and Detention Services, as a Recruiting Unit investigator, and a secondment to the former Coordinated Law Enforcement Unit. He completed a second operational tour in District 1 as the community police officer where he managed the Davie Street Community Policing Office. This position required collaboration with local community leaders, business owners, and volunteers to address neighbourhood crime and disorder issues.
In addition to his regular operational duties, Deputy Chief Rai completed a number of concurrent assignments, including ten years as an Emergency Response Team crisis negotiator, six years with the VPD’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team, and three years with the Forensic Interview Team, utilizing his Punjabi second language skills.
Deputy Chief Rai promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2003, where he returned to District 3. As an operational supervisor, Deputy Chief Rai oversaw a team of ten constables, dealing with a multitude of critical incidents and complex investigations. In 2004, he transferred to the position of sergeant-in-charge of the VPD Recruiting Unit. During this assignment, he led a highly motivated team of investigators in fulfilling the Department’s mandate of hiring a large number of police officers, jail guards and traffic authority members. His team was successful in attracting numerous new exempt police officer applicants while also increasing the number of Indigenous, ethnic, and female recruits, through innovative community outreach and mentoring of young future officers.
Following his position in the Recruiting Unit, Deputy Chief Rai returned to the Operations Division, this time in District 2, an area that media outlets at the time dubbed “the poorest postal code in Canada.” Deputy Chief Rai managed a team of constables dealing with unique sets of problems including extreme poverty and serious drug addiction in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
Deputy Chief Rai joined the VPD Senior Management Team upon his promotion to the rank of inspector in 2007, where he took on the role of Executive Officer in the Chief Constable’s Office. In 2008, his next assignment was as the Operational Duty Officer, where he was responsible for critical incident management. In 2009, Deputy Chief Rai returned to the Training and Recruiting Section during a high-pressure time — the section successfully hired a large number of officers in preparation for the 2010 Olympics while increasing the diversity of the department, earning a Chief Constable’s Citation for their feat.
In 2009, Deputy Chief Rai also became a certified Bronze, Silver, and Gold Public Order Commander, where he effectively led the response to a number of high-profile and protracted public order protests and demonstrations. He was a Vancouver Departmental Operations Centre Commander for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the North Commander during the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots, and the Incident Commander for Occupy Vancouver.
After the 2010 Olympics, Deputy Chief Rai transferred to become the Director in charge of the Human Resources Section, where he led a strong team of senior sergeants, exempt managers, and civilian professionals in meeting the challenging needs of VPD’s diverse workforce. Deputy Rai also initiated and led the formation of the Employee Wellness Program, delivering a positive effect on employee retention and later contributing to the VPD being named one of British Columbia’s Top Employers.
In 2012, Deputy Chief Rai returned to the Operations Division as the District 3 Commander, where he oversaw 200 police officers and was responsible for all crime-fighting approaches and community partnerships. Under the command of Deputy Chief Rai, targeted programs were implemented to address crime trends including focused bicycle and foot patrols in designated areas without impacting regular service efficiencies. Under his command, overall District 3 crime dropped by 21% and the violent crime rate decreased by 17%.
In July 2014, Deputy Chief Rai promoted to superintendent in Personnel Services, where he oversaw all sworn and civilian employee matters, including managing union issues, employee support, promotions, training standards, and discipline under the BC Police Act. As superintendent, Deputy Chief Rai stabilized some of the most contentious Professional Standards files in recent VPD history, while strengthening cooperative relationships with union partners, the Office of the Police Complaints Commission, community groups, and individuals. His actions led to the near-total replacement of formal grievance proceedings by informal resolutions that exemplify responsiveness, consistency, fairness, and unbiased decision-making.
In June 2015, he promoted to Deputy Chief Constable of Support Services Division. In his current role, Deputy Chief Rai oversees the strategic management and coordination of all Support Services sub-divisions, including Financial Services, Personnel Services, and Information Services.
Deputy Chief Rai is responsible for the management of VPD’s annual budget of $312 million (2020). He has successfully led multiple rounds of collective bargaining and obtained more than 170 additional staff for the VPD in the 2017 Operational Review. Under his command, the VPD has continued to be a leader in law enforcement information technology and has implemented innovative employee health and wellness programs to support all VPD employees.
Deputy Chief Rai continues to expand his executive leadership skills. In 2006, he was the only Canadian police officer accepted for the US State Department’s International Leadership Development Program, which brought together police leaders from throughout the world. He is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute Leadership Program and the Major City Chiefs Association Police Executive Leadership Program. Throughout his career, he has been involved in many different committees in support of the law enforcement profession. In 2018, Deputy Chief Rai was elected as the President of the British Columbia Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police, an organization representing all municipal police departments in the province, which oversees emerging issues related to municipal policing. Deputy Chief Rai also serves as a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Ethics Committee and was one of the founding members of the Canadian Armed Forces Advisory Council on Diversity, where he shared his expertise in recruiting for diversity into the Canadian military.
Deputy Chief Rai is the recipient of a Chief Constable’s Commendation for “courage and professionalism,” two Chief Constable Unit Citations, and a Police Exemplary Service Medal. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Khalsa Diwan Society Exemplary Community Service Award and appointed to the Member of Merit of the Police Forces in May 2016, and promoted to the Order of Merit in May 2020. The Order of Merit is “a fellowship of honour recognizing the highest qualities of citizenship, service to Canada, to the police community and to humanity at large.”
Steve Rai, O.O.M.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson, O.O.M.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson has been a member of the Vancouver Police Department since 1999. She began her career serving as a patrol constable in several districts, walking the beat in the Downtown Eastside, and working as an investigator in the Sex Crimes Unit. In addition, she worked as an investigator on Projects Rebellion and Torrent – two major projects that successfully disrupted regional organized crime groups.
In 2007, she authored the VPD report “Lost in Transition” that highlighted a lack of capacity in the mental health system for some of the most vulnerable people living in our community. The success of this report led to her presenting to audiences in Canada as well as Asia.
Upon promotion to sergeant in 2009, she returned to the Operations Division to lead a patrol team before going on to serve in the Professional Standards Section. In 2012, she joined the Major Crime Section as a sergeant leading an investigative team. Superintendent Wilson went on to work with the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit as a Team Leader in charge of an international drug investigation.
In 2016, she was promoted to staff sergeant and served in the General Investigation Section, where she oversaw numerous investigative units.
Since promotion to inspector in 2017, she has worked as the Officer-in-Charge of the Court and Detention Services Section. Deputy Chief Wilson achieved improvements in training as well as policy – leading a comprehensive review of the Jail manual of operations. In addition, she initiated and coordinated a major upgrade of the Vancouver Jail facility, which processes over 16,000 persons annually.
Deputy Chief Wilson is the recipient of five VPD commendations, the 2008 Communications Award from the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, the 2008 Richard Dolman Award from the B.C. Schizophrenic Society, the John Kable Young Justice Professional Memorial Award, and a Meritorious Service Award. She holds bachelor and master of arts degrees in criminology from Simon Fraser University.
Deputy Chief Constable Wilson lives in White Rock with her husband, Skigh, and their three children.
She was promoted to superintendent in March 2019 and represented the VPD on secondment as a Deputy Chief Officer with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia (CFSEU-BC). In January 2021, she became superintendent in charge of Investigative Support Services.
In May 2021, she was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable, and is in charge of the Investigative Services Division.
Fiona Wilson, O.O.M.
Superintendent Lisa Byrne, O.O.M.
Superintendent Lisa Byrne has been a member of the Vancouver Police Department since 2000, becoming a superintendent in 2020.
She began her career in uniform in the Downtown Eastside, and has since worked as a detective in the Gang Crime Unit, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC, the Homicide Unit, and the Sex Crimes Unit.
Lisa is an experienced investigator with more than 15 years of experience in major case management. She was promoted to sergeant in 2014, and achieved Team Commander accreditation in 2015. Since that time, she has commanded two of the VPD’s largest and most successful multi-jurisdictional investigations including a sex crimes taskforce: Project Shield, and an anti-criminal organization taskforce, Project Tourniquet.
As a sergeant, Lisa was assigned to the Sex Crimes Unit and the Homicide Unit. She was promoted to staff sergeant in 2017 where she was assigned to the Gang Crime Unit. Upon promotion to inspector, she was assigned to the Court and Detention Services Section.
Lisa was the 2009 Police Officer of the year, has received two meritorious service awards from the Province of British Columbia, and is the recipient of eight VPD Commendations. In 2020, she was inducted by the Governor General of Canada into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces as an Officer.
In addition to being the past-president of the Police Mutual Benevolent Association (PMBA), Lisa volunteers her time to ensure the wellness of other members of the VPD and their families throughout the year.
Lisa is the daughter of a retired RCMP member, and was raised in rural Alberta. She holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Alberta.
Lisa lives in Burnaby and Whistler with her significant other, Steve, and their dog Lucy.
Lisa Byrne, O.O.M.
Superintendent Andrew Chan
Superintendent Andrew Chan began his career with the Vancouver Police Department in 1997 as a reserve constable and was sworn in as a regular constable in 1999. He spent the first five years of his career as a frontline patrol constable, and also held assignments walking the beat, on the bicycle squad, and as a member of the Public Safety Unit. In 2004, he was selected to the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as a tactical operator, where he held a variety of specialty assignments and was a key member of the training cadre for the 2010 Winter Olympics deployment.
In 2011, Superintendent Chan was promoted to sergeant and held supervisory positions as an operational patrol sergeant and ERT tactical team leader. In 2016, he was assigned to the Human Resources Section and held positions as the sergeant-in-charge of the Department Security Office and staff sergeant-in-charge of the HR Operations units. Promoted to inspector in 2019, he remained assigned to the Human Resources Section as the officer-in-charge where he managed 14 units and was responsible for all aspects of HR operations and employee services for sworn and civilian professional members. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Superintendent Chan was assigned as a Silver Commander in the VPD’s Department Operations Centre and was the executive lead in charge of the Pandemic Working Group. Superintendent Chan was also the executive lead responsible for the development of the VPD’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.
Superintendent Chan has completed several policing and professional development programs throughout his career, including the National Critical Incident Commander Program at the Canadian Police College (CPC), and the Gold Public Order Commander Course through the UK College of Policing. Superintendent Chan has presented at a number of national conferences, including the CACP Annual Conference, Law of Policing Conference, and the Mental Health First Responder Speaker Series Conference. In 2019, Superintendent Chan was elected to the Board of Directors of the BC Borstal Association where he volunteers his time to support community safety and wellness through education and trauma counselling programs.
Promoted to superintendent in 2020, he was assigned to Disciplinary Authority Services where he was responsible for the adjudication of Police Act Discipline Proceedings. In 2021, Superintendent Chan transferred to Operations Support Command where he was responsible for 400 police officers and special constables across six sections, including the Court & Detention Services Section, Duty Officers, Emergency and Operational Planning Section, Emergency Response Section, Traffic Section, and Operations Support Section. In 2023, Superintendent Chan transferred to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Vancouver Integrated Safety and Security Unit Command.
Superintendent Chan serves as a member on a number of provincial and national policing committees, and is the co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Emergency Management Committee and Leadership Conference Planning Committee. Superintendent Chan is the recipient of the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Valour and Meritorious Service, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Police Exemplary Service Medal, and 10 VPD commendations. He is married to his wife Kathy, who is a senior VPD member, and they have a school-aged daughter, Natasha.
Andrew Chan
Superintendent Don Chapman
Superintendent Don Chapman was born in Owen Sound, Ontario, and relocated to North Vancouver at the age of four. He joined the Vancouver Police Department in September 1997 after graduating from Simon Fraser University with a bachelor of arts degree in criminology.
Superintendent Chapman spent the first five years of his career working in District 3, held assignments as a field trainer, ERT reserve, and was a member of the Public Safety Unit. In 2003, he was selected to join the Emergency Response Team as a tactical operator, and over the course of 11 years participated in 600 critical incidents, becoming a subject matter expert in explosive disposal, explosive forced entry, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear operations.
In 2013, Superintendent Chapman was promoted to sergeant and pursued assignments as the Aide to the Deputy Chief Constable in Operations, led a patrol team in District 4, and oversaw the Research and Policy Unit in the Planning, Research and Audit Section. In 2017, he was promoted to staff sergeant and has since worked in District 4 in the Operations Division, as well as in the Professional Standards Section. In 2020, Superintendent Chapman was promoted to inspector and held positions as the Duty Officer and the Inspector in charge of the Emergency and Operational Planning Section.
In December 2021, he was promoted to superintendent and is currently assigned to the Support Services Division – Discipline Authority Services portfolio.
Superintendent Chapman is the recipient of the 20-year Exemplary Service Medal as well as seven Chief Constable’s Unit Citation Awards. He continues to devote time as the Chair of the VPD Equipment Committee, CBRNE Working Group, the VPD’s Remotely Piloted Aerial Program, the mental health awareness initiative Project Connect Protect, and represents the VPD as a Military Liaison and Public Safety Unit accredited Gold Commander.
Don Chapman
Senior Director Nancy Eng
Senior Director Nancy Eng is in charge of the Financial Services Section.
She joined the Vancouver Police Department in July 2005 as Controller, overseeing the budget, accounting and financial operations. On May 1, 2015, she became Senior Director in charge of Financial Services.
She obtained her bachelor of commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, with a major in accounting and management information systems. She is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, having obtained her designation with the British Columbia Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Prior to joining the VPD, Senior Director Eng articled with Smythe Ratcliffe, a local firm of Chartered Accountants, before moving to the not-for-profit sector in 1995. She has held senior financial management positions as Controller with the Hospital Employees’ Union, the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia (OCABC) and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC), and Manager, Finance, with the British Columbia Housing Management Commission (BC Housing).
During her career, Senior Director Eng has gained extensive working knowledge in the development and implementation of sound financial and budgeting practices, policies and procedures, reporting and accountability processes, taxation, purchasing, payroll and strategic planning. She co-authored and produced a GST guide for social housing providers while at BC Housing, and led the OCABC in the administrative and financial transition of OCABC’s integration with the RCMP.
Senior Director Eng was part of the team that received a Chief Constable Unit Citation for the implementation of the Workforce Management System. She has also worked on several City of Vancouver and police agency committees regarding budgeting, accounting, financial reporting and purchasing issues.
Nancy Eng
Superintendent Shelley Horne
Superintendent Shelley Horne joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1996. She began her career working in Patrol District 4 and later completed assignments in the Planning Research & Audit Section, the Sex Crimes Unit, and the Domestic Violence and Criminal Harassment Unit. During these assignments, Superintendent Horne led numerous complex projects and investigations.
In 2014, Superintendent Horne was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Professional Standards Section, where she led a high profile, external investigation, receiving a commendation from the Police Complaint Commissioner for her work on the file. She later returned to the Sex Crimes Unit to lead a team of detectives, while also supervising VPD detectives assigned to the Treehouse – Vancouver Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, an agency with a co-located multidisciplinary team focused on the intervention and prevention of child abuse.
In 2017, upon her promotion to staff sergeant, Superintendent Horne was assigned to the Human Resources Section, as the staff sergeant in charge of employee services for all VPD sworn members. In 2019, Superintendent Horne was promoted to inspector and returned to the Professional Standards Section serving as a designated Discipline Authority until December 2020, when she returned to the Investigation Division, becoming the Inspector in charge of the Special Investigation Section. In this role, Superintendent Horne led six units focused on the investigation of crimes involving intimate partner violence, sexual assault and exploitation, child abuse, high risk offenders, and criminal harassment. Superintendent Horne also served on several local and provincial committees focusing on the safety of women and children.
Superintendent Horne was promoted to superintendent in December 2021, and is presently in charge of Personnel Services.
Superintendent Horne holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia, and is active in her community, currently volunteering her time serving on the board of a local youth sports organization.
Shelley Horne
Superintendent Alison Laurin
Superintendent Alison Laurin has been a member of the VPD since 2005. She began her career in uniform working in East Vancouver. She then served as a detective for three years in the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit, and for four years in the Homicide Unit. Additionally, she worked as an affiant on Project Reality, a major homicide and conspiracy investigation that had significant impacts on organized crime.
Promoted to sergeant in 2016, Superintendent Laurin served in the Professional Standards Section and the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit where she led numerous successful projects to apprehend sexual offenders. She also worked on several local and provincial committees focusing on the safety of women and children.
In 2020, she was promoted to staff sergeant and was assigned to the Beat Enforcement Team and the Marine Unit. She worked with five beat teams and engaged with numerous community partners. Here she successfully led Project Bankroll, a multi-jurisdictional fentanyl trafficking investigation which resulted in 15 criminal charges and the seizure of $4.7 million in illicit drugs, firearms, and $584,000 in assets from drug traffickers supplying vulnerable residents in the community.
Upon promotion to inspector, she was transferred to the Court and Detention Services Section, where she oversaw the Vancouver Jail and relationships with the courts. In 2021, she was assigned to command of District 2 in the Operations Division, where she was responsible for over 200 frontline officers, and led the roll out of new digital evidence management systems in the District.
She was promoted to superintendent in December 2021 and seconded as a Deputy Chief Officer with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC).
Superintendent Laurin holds a bachelor of science with honours and a master’s degree in resource and environmental management from Simon Fraser University. She is the recipient of two Chief Constable’s Commendations. She enjoys spending time with husband, Mike Laurin, who is currently a staff sergeant at the Real Time Intelligence Centre.
Alison Laurin
Superintendent Tyrone Sideroff, M.O.M.
Superintendent Tyrone Sideroff oversees Information Services, which consists of eight specialty areas, including the Information Management Section, Information & Communications Technology, Information & Privacy Unit, Property and Forensic Storage Services, Facilities Services, Fleet Operations, Enterprise Risk Management Section, as well as the Planning, Research & Audit Section. These organizational areas encompass over 200 personnel, including many of the VPD’s specialized subject matter experts.
Tyrone was born, raised, and resides in Vancouver. He joined the VPD as a volunteer in 2000 and was hired in 2004. He spent the first decade of his career assigned to District 2 Patrol in East Vancouver. Tyrone then completed investigative assignments with the Property Crime Unit and on secondment with an international joint-forces RCMP drug project. In 2017, he served a principal role on the VPD’s Operational Review Project Team, which studied the Department’s long-term staffing needs and resulted in City Council approving an increase of 120 sworn and 52 civilian positions.
As a sergeant, Tyrone performed the legal support role as part of the Professional Standards Section. He subsequently played key roles on numerous major projects, including the VPD’s emergency operations activation in response to Covid-19. As the staff sergeant assigned to HR Operations, Tyrone led six units serving over 1,500 sworn members. Upon promotion to inspector in 2021, Tyrone remained in the Human Resources Section as the officer-in-charge. He led a blended team of sworn and civilian HR professionals responsible for 13 essential HR service areas, including member wellness and organizational resourcing, serving over 2,100 VPD employees.
Tyrone has remained active in the community throughout all of his VPD assignments, including maintaining close ties with the Community Crime Watch volunteer program where he began his career. He is the recipient of eight commendations, including two BC Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Valour and Meritorious Service, and he was named the 2010 Vancouver Police Officer of the Year as a frontline patrol officer. In 2023, Tyrone was appointed to Canada’s Order of Merit of the Police Forces – “a fellowship of honour recognizing the highest qualities of citizenship, service to Canada, to the police community, and to humanity at large.”
Tyrone Sideroff, M.O.M.
Superintendent Howard Tran
Superintendent Tran joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1997 and has worked in a wide variety of assignments. As a constable, he was assigned to District Three, the Crime Surveillance Unit, the Recruiting Unit, and the Robbery, Assault, and Arson Unit.
He was promoted to sergeant in 2009 and assigned to District One. Subsequent assignments included the Professional Standards Section and the Youth Services Section, where he was assigned the mental health portfolio. He established the Mental Health Unit and operationalized the Assertive Community Treatment and Assertive Outreach Teams.
Superintendent Tran was promoted to staff sergeant in 2013 and remained in Youth Services. He subsequently became the full-time acting inspector in 2014 and was promoted to inspector in 2015, remaining assigned to Youth Services. In January of 2018, Superintendent Tran was transferred to the North Command as a Duty Officer, and in 2019 became the Commanding Officer of District Four.
Upon being promoted to superintendent at the end of 2020, Superintendent Tran oversaw North Command in Operations, in charge of multiple portfolios including: Patrol District One, Patrol District Two, Court and Detention Services Section, Community Services Section, the Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Relations Section, as well as the Car 10 Duty Officers. He is currently the Superintendent of Investigative Support Services.
Superintendent Tran serves on a number of boards related to his work with youth and mental health: the Pulling Together Canoe Society, the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast BC, the KidSafe Society, and the Community Legal Assistance Society.
He has participated in a number of advisory councils and steering committees related to mental health, addiction, and youth justice, most notably: as the co-chair of “Project Link” – VPD-VCH Steering Committee on Mental Health, the Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Addiction, the BC Alliance on Mental Health and Addiction, the Advisory Council to the BC Representative for Children and Youth, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Youth Justice, and the Douglas College Youth Justice Program Advisory Committee.
He holds a bachelor of arts (economics) from the University of Victoria, and is the recipient of three Chief Constable’s Unit Citations, one Deputy Chief Constable Citation, and one Inspector’s Commendation.
Howard Tran
Superintendent Tanya Whysker
Superintendent Tanya Whysker joined the VPD in 1997. She began her policing career by working in Districts 3 and 4, and has completed assignments in Strike Force, Robbery/Assault, CFSEU (Investigations and Affiant team), School Liaison, and Youth Services. She has been the lead on numerous high profile and complex investigations.
In 2016, Superintendent Whysker was promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the Professional Standards Section. She was then transferred to the Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit where she led a team, and supervised VPD detectives assigned to the Child Youth Advocacy Centre.
In 2019, Superintendent Whysker was promoted to staff sergeant and assigned to the Professional Standards Section. Upon promotion to inspector in 2020, she remained in the Professional Standards Section as a designated Discipline Authority, followed by her assignment as inspector in the Human Resources Section. She is presently the Superintendent in charge of Operations Command.
Superintendent Whysker is an active member of the VPD Critical Incident Stress Management Team and continues to support members in Peer Support. She is also a member of the VPD Women’s Personal Safety Team and volunteers in her community as past-president of the non-profit highland dancing organization.
Superintendent Whysker enjoys spending time with her husband, Greg, a retired VPD sergeant, and her daughter.
Tanya Whysker
