A Coquitlam hometown boy has been named Metro Vancouver Transit’s top cop.
The Transit Police force announced New Westminster Police Department Chief Constable Dave Jones will become its chief officer on April 1 replacing interim chief officer Barry Kross. Jones, who has lived in Coquitlam for 56 years and graduated from Centennial secondary in 1980, has been with the NWPD for 37 years becoming chief constable eight years ago.
Jones’s career began as a volunteer reserve before being hired as an officer in September 1986. He has gone from patrol to the major crimes, special operations, drug, street crime and community services units. According to a NWPD press release, Jones led an initiative to clean up crack cocaine dealing in New West’s downtown in the late 1990s.
He was promoted to inspector in 2000, deputy chief in 2009 and chief in March 2011. Jones is co-chair of the National Police Services advisory group, and executive secretary treasurer for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
“Nothing in my career has brought me more pride than serving as the police chief for the city of New Westminster,” said Jones, who along with being involved in community soccer and sports is chair of the Coquitlam Field Sports Association, 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.”
“Chief Jones,” said Transit Police board chair Mark Reder in a release, “has deep roots in the community and a wealth of experience at local, provincial and national levels of police leadership. The Transit Police is a dynamic organization, operating in a growing region. We are confident that Chief Jones will lead our organization from strength-to-strength, ensuring we stay at the forefront of public service and safety.”
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 NWPD 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 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 Jones, recognizing commitment to this country and to honour a career of exceptional service within policing in Canada. He recently received the officer’s level Order of Merit that was presented to him in Ottawa.
Jones, a Simon Fraser University general studies graduate, is currently enrolled in the Osgoode Hall Master of Law degree program.
