Steve Rai appointed Vancouver's new police chief after filling job in interim role

Newly minted Vancouver police chief Steve Rai says the city's diversity means its police department must be "accessible to everyone from all cultures," as he takes the helm at the department after the exit of former chief Adam Palmer. 

Mayor Ken Sim said at a news conference Thursday that Rai brings more than three decades of experience with the Vancouver Police Department, including stints in nearly every area of the force.

"This decision was not taken lightly," Sim said. "As mayor and the chair of the search committee for the Vancouver Police Board, we made it top priority to ensure that we selected the right leader." 

He said Rai started as a front-line officer in the Downtown Eastside, then rose through the ranks to lead police operations including during the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2011 Stanley Cup riot.

Sim said Rai's first day as acting chief was when the "horrific" Lapu Lapu Day festival attack occurred, highlighting that "it's an incredibly challenging job."

Rai fronted briefings about the festival tragedy that claimed 11 lives in Vancouver last month, and he said Thursday that one of the challenges is that the police department is "very young." 

"You saw what happened at the Lapu Lapu tragedy," Rai said. "The first officers on scene were 25 years old, and so we're going to support them, (and) make sure they grow as leaders into the organization." 

His appointment as the department's 32nd chief constable comes after former chief Palmer stepped down from the position he had held for 10 years.

Sim said Rai is a "respected bridge builder who has championed reconciliation within the VPD."

“With Chief Rai at the helm, Vancouver is in strong hands as we work to build a safer, more connected and more resilient city," Sim said in a statement.

The city hired an executive search firm to recruit the new chief, and police board chair Frank Chong said the talent pool for senior, qualified police officers is "actually very small in terms of the tier one talent" in Canada. 

"So it was a very, very difficult task, but overall, we had a very good short list," he said. 

Chong said there were fewer than 10 people shortlisted for the position, and said the "vision for the future of policing is clear: a police service that is accountable, equitable, transparent and trusted by all members of the community." 

"We sought a leader who could bring the vision to life, someone whose leadership is grounded in respect, informed by data, compassion, and dedicated to advancing safety, justice and the well-being of all communities," he said. "The board remains committed to supporting Chief Rai as he assumes his new role." 

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck