New Westminster needs a new top cop.
After 37 years with the New Westminster Police Department, Chief Const. Dave Jones has accepted the job of chief officer with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
Jones has worked in New West since 1982 when he volunteered as a reserve constable. He moved up the ranks into senior management in 2000 as an inspector and has served as chief constable for eight years.
“Nothing in my career has brought me more pride than serving as the Police Chief for the city of New Westminster,” said Jones in a news release. “I will be forever grateful for having the opportunity to protect and serve a community I value so much. I will be bringing what I’ve learned at the New Westminster Police Department to the Metro Vancouver Transit Police as their new Chief Officer and I am looking forward to this new phase in my career.”
New West Mayor Jonathan Cote said Jones will be missed.
“Chief Jones has set the bar for professionalism and effective community policing,” said Cote in a news release. “Chief Jones has provided over three decades of loyal service to the residents of New Westminster. He leaves behind a modernized and professional police department and on behalf of the community we offer our thanks.”
Jones will begin with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police on April 1.
During his career, Jones has worked in a variety of sections of the police service, including Patrol, Major Crimes Section, Special Operations Unit, Drug Section, Community Services Section, and Street Crimes Unit.
In addition, he has worked on a variety of Joint Forces Operations during his time spent in the JFO (RCMP/NWPD) Drug Section, Operational Support Unit and the Street Crimes Unit. He led the downtown initiative that dealt with an influx of crack cocaine dealers in the late 1990’s.
Chief Jones was promoted to the rank of Inspector in March 2000 and served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Patrol Division and Support Services Division. In October 2009 he was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Constable, and in March 2011 he was promoted to the rank of Chief Constable, making him one of the first members of the NWPD to work his way through the ranks to the position of Chief Constable.
In his time as Chief, the department has grown and progressed in many ways. Chief Constable Jones worked with various city departments in the creation of the Integrated Service Team (IST) model that is still in effect today that deals collectively with community and policing issues.
Chief Jones has received recognition for various investigations and events in the form of Chief Constable Commendation, Sr. Officer’s Commendation, Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In May of 2013, the Governor General of Canada presented the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces medal to Chief Jones, recognizing commitment to this country and to honour a career of exceptional service within policing in Canada. Chief Jones recently received the officer’s level Order of Merit that was presented to him in Ottawa.
Chief Jones holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree within a joint Simon Fraser University/Justice Institute of BC Leadership Development program. He is currently enrolled in the Osgoode Hall Master of Law degree program. Chief Jones is an active member of local, provincial and national associations of police chiefs. Chief Jones is the co-chair of the National Police Services advisory group, and is the Executive Secretary Treasurer for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
Chief Jones is actively involved in the local community soccer and sports programs and currently chairs the Coquitlam Field Sports Association.
