History

The Vancouver Police Mounted Squad is formed, with 11 officers and 12 horses. A year later, the first patrolman on horseback is assigned to patrol Stanley Park.

Vancouver is the first police department in Canada – and third in the world – to hire female officers. Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller act as matrons in the jail, escort women prisoners, and make regular patrols of pool halls, cabarets, dances and other places where young people congregate.

John Vance is a City of Vancouver health analyst when he is called to take blood samples at the scene of a murder. His forensic skills prove to be exceptional, and he is given a crime lab later the same year. He becomes known as the “Sherlock Holmes of Canada,” and is so good at his job that there are several attempts on his life.

The VPD’s first traffic enforcement officers begin patrolling in 1918 after the Department purchased three Indian motorcycles, but it is 1922 when the first Traffic Division is formed. Right from the start, officers are committed to road safety, and balance education with enforcement.

The first VPD forensic lab opens at 238 E. Cordova, next door to the police station. It is one of the most advanced forensic facilities in North America, even rivalling the FBI crime lab that opens the same year.

The first police radios are installed in VPD police cars.

New police headquarters at 312 Main Street opens.

The Vancouver Police Canine Unit is created, the oldest municipal police dog unit in Canada. In 1959, Chief Constable George Archer wrote about the unit: “It is my considered opinion, based on our experience to date, that the four dogs now on duty are each equal to a second police constable and, in some instances, better.”

Sergeant Basil Molony devises a system to quickly identify a single fingerprint found at a crime scene, known as the Molony 4-Finger System for Print Search, and it is adopted by police agencies throughout North America. The Crime Detection Laboratory, the Fingerprint Section, and the Document Examination Section are highly respected by other experts in their fields.

The VPD’s first black officer was hired. Arthur “Bruce” Clarke went on to a policing career that spanned over 30 years.

Constable Sharajit Carroll (nee Mehat) became the first South Asian female police officer hired by the VPD. She worked as a substitute teacher prior to joining, but she had always dreamed of wearing a uniform.

A new and ultra-modern Communications Centre opens, and the 9-1-1 system is implemented.

The computer age arrives and VPD is the first Canadian department to install mobile computers in police cars, giving officers immediate access to information and allowing them to communicate directly and securely with the Communication Centre.

The VPD Ceremonial Unit begins at the Sea Festival Parade. Members continue to represent the VPD today, marching in parades and taking part in events and functions, including performing honour guard duties.

Police officers were patrolling on bicycles as early as 1899, but the VPD Bike Program officially begins in 1991, providing a mix of community outreach, neighbourhood policing, and crime-fighting. In just over 10 years, it would grow to one of the largest bike programs in North America.

The VPD launches its first website, one of only a handful of police websites worldwide.

Carolyn Daley becomes the VPD’s first female Deputy Chief Constable, 25 years after joining the Department.

Jim Chu, of Chinese ancestry, becomes the first non-white VPD Chief Constable.

The Department moves into 3585 Graveley Street, as the second main police building to 2120 Cambie Street headquarters.

The Department adds two fully-electric motorcycles to the VPD fleet of vehicles, becoming one of the first police agencies in Canada to use pure electric motorcycles for police operations. In 2018, an additional 20 electric vehicles replace gas-powered cars in the fleet, which are used by investigative and administrative staff.