The North Vancouver RCMP is located in the heart of North Vancouver, which is situated on the North Shore of the Port of Vancouver, on Burrard Inlet, across from downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. The North Shore is made up of North Vancouver and West Vancouver. From Burrard Inlet, North Vancouver rises sharply to the peaks of Grouse and Seymour Mountains.
North Vancouver is comprised of two municipalities, the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver. The District of North Vancouver surrounds the City, however, North Vancouver is policed as one whole area. North Vancouver is also the home to five First Nations Bands. The North Vancouver RCMP polices four of the reserves and the fifth is policed by the West Vancouver Police Department.
The North Vancouver RCMP is committed to building a safer community through partnerships with local businesses, residents and government agencies. The RCMP in North Vancouver enjoys an excellent working relationship with the Mayors and Councils of North Vancouver, and boasts robust and active community involvement in its crime reduction strategies. North Vancouver's strong sense of community makes it not only one of the best places in the world to live, but also a fantastic place to work as a police agency.
North Vancouver is a beautiful place to live. It’s renowned for its rural lifestyle while being situated only minutes from Downtown Vancouver. Physical fitness and outdoor activities are a way of life in North Vancouver with hiking, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing and scuba diving being among the popular sports. There never seems to be an end of things to do. Both Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour are within the North Vancouver Detachment area, and Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are only a ninety minute drive away.
Officer in Charge - Superintendent Chris Kennedy
Chris joined the RCMP in 1980 after completing his degree at the University of Western Ontario. He has an extensive operational policing background as an investigator and supervisor in plainclothes and 9 years on Burnaby’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) where he finished as the Team Leader.
Chris was awarded the "Star of Courage" from the Governor General of Canada for assisting in the saving of two people from a house fire in Burnaby, BC in 1984.
Chris was seconded to Justice Institute of BC from 1992 to 1996 where he served as the Advanced Program Coordinator/Instructor for the Academy. During this time Chris completed his Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Victoria and served as a researcher/adviser to the BC Policing Commission of Inquiry (Oppal Commission). For the last 12 years, he has remained as an adjunct teaching faculty member with the JIBC.
In 1996, he was promoted to a supervisory position in charge of North Vancouver Detachment’s General investigation Section (GIS) where he performed in various supervisory roles. He was transferred from the North Vancouver Det. Professional Standards Investigator position in 2003 to serve as the lead investigator on a provincial policing initiative titled Project EPIVOT. This investigation dealt with a number of policing complaints against the Vancouver Police which were forwarded by the Pivot Legal Society on behalf of citizens of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
Chris received his commission to the rank of Inspector in February of 2007 serving as the Operations Support Officer for North Vancouver Det. In May of 2008, he was transferred into the position of Operations Officer for North Vancouver Detachment. In December of 2011 Chris was promoted into the rank of Superintendent and is currently the OIC (Officer In Charge) of the North Vancouver Detachment.
Operations Officer - Insp. Mike Bhatti
Insp. Mike Bhatti has 20 years of split service with the RCMP. (for 5 years he worked at ICBC)
- 1988, obtained Diploma in Criminal Justice, Camosun College, Victoria BC
- 1999, worked with Canada Customs as a Summer Student, Nanaimo, BC
- 1990, Bachelor of Arts Degree - Major in Criminology, SFU, Burnaby, BC
- 1992, Sworn in as Cst. in Port Alberni and attended RCMP Depot, Regina for training
- 1992, Graduated from Depot, first posting Richmond Detachment, E Division, Richmond, BC
- 1992-1997, Richmond Detachment, work in GD and Burglary (property Crime) Units.
- Sept 1997, Took 1 year leave of absence from RCMP and joined ICBC - SIU in North Vancouver. After 1 year resigned from RCMP and continued working at ICBC -SIU.
- 2002, Rejoined the RCMP as a Cst. and was posted again to Richmond Detachment. Worked in GD then followed by YVR- Vancouver International Airport Detachment. Then worked 1 year with Richmond Serious Crimes.
- 2005, Promoted to Cpl., at YVR- Vancouver International Airport. In charge of GD - B Watch.
- 2006, Lateral move to Cpl., NCO i/c Richmond Drug Section.
- 2008, Promoted to Sgt., Operations NCO, GD D Watch - Richmond Detachment, Richmond, BC
- 2010, Promoted to S/Sgt., Watch Commander, Ridge Meadows Detachment, Maple Ridge, BC
- 2013, Lateral move to E Div. HQ as S/Sgt, NCO i/c Criminal Operations Secretariat.
- 2014, Seconded as LMD Regional Duty Officer (A/Insp)
- 2014, Commissioned to Inspector, Duty Officer, C Watch, Surrey Detachment
-Sept 2016, named as Operations Officer, North Vancouver
Awards & Recognitions
- Commanding Officer's Commendation, Stanley Cup Riot -2011, Vancouver BC, Oct 2014
- Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, November 2012
- Commanding Officer's Appreciation, Outstanding Community Service – Team IZZAT, 2006
- OIC’s Certificate of Appreciation for Reducing B&E and utilizing Crime Prevention Initiatives, 1996
Operations Support Officer - Insp. Bal Brach
Bal joined the RCMP in 1996. Over the course of his career he has worked throughout the Lower Mainland in duties ranging from General Duty to Major Crimes Investigation.
He was first posted to North Vancouver Detachment working in General Duty and the Special Projects Unit. At this time he also worked on the Provincial Integrated Sexual Predator Offender Team. He then transferred to the Waterfront Joint Forces Operation where he spent his time working drug investigations. In 2005 he was promoted to a Corporal position with the newly formed BC Integrated Gang Task Force where he supervised an investigative team targeting the most violent gang offenders. In 2011 he returned to municipal policing when he promoted to Surrey Detachment as a Sergeant in charge of a Serious Crimes Investigative Team.
After working three years at Surrey Detachment he was promoted to Ridge Meadows Detachment as the Staff Sergeant Plainclothes Commander. As a member of the Senior Management Team he had oversight of all Specialized Investigative Units policing the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
In October 2016 Bal was Commissioned to the rank of Inspector as the North Vancouver Detachment Operations Support Officer where he is now responsible for all Specialized Investigative Units, Community Policing and the Integrated First Nations Policing Unit.
Bal has received the Commanding Officer’s Commendation for investigative work.
Bal obtained a Criminal Justice Diploma and has continued part time studies towards the completion of a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
A Brief History of the RCMP in North Vancouver
In 1950 the RCMP provincial policing contracts extended in British Columbia and Newfoundland. The BC Provincial Police had already assumed the duties and responsibilities for law enforcement on the North Shore.
- 1893: The first law court was held in North Vancouver. During this time individuals within the community were appointed as constables. They were given the authority to do the community’s bidding in keeping the peace.
- 1897: Mr. Wattie was appointed constable and held the office for two years.
- 1899: August Mr. A.D. Nye was appointed constable until 1902 when Mr. Charles Mee was appointed. Mr. Mee resigned in March and Mr. Jack Kaymes replaced him while acting as caretaker for the new municipal hall.
- 1904 June: The prefix "Royal" was conferred on the force by King Edward VII in recognition of the force’s contributions to bringing peace and stability to the North West.
- 1906 August: Mr. H.Dick was appointed constable but resigned when Mr. Arthur Davies was appointed with Mr. Peter Stewart as his assistant.
- 1907: Arthur Davies was appointed City’s first Chief of Police.
It was a different time but not a different place. It was here on the North Shore within what we know and come to love as North Vancouver.
- 1919: Chief Peter Stewart – Appointment to City of North Vancouver Police.
- 1920: Following the expansion of our mandate and our merger with the
Dominion Police
, we became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- 1934 October 15th: BC Provincial Police assumes policing duties in the City and District of North Vancouver.
- 1940-1942: The RCMP supply vessel, St. Roch, makes her historic voyage through the North-West Passage.
- 1950 August 14,
(An excerpt from the North Shore Press August 17th, 1950)
BC PoliceOn Duty
in North Vancouver August 14th 1950.
S/Sgt. George MacAndrew #421
Cpl. AlexSandy
Millar #575
Cpl. Phil Boulton
Cst. William Cameron #1249
Cst. Al Clark
Cst. Art Cotter
Cst. Eric Cox
Cst. R.P. Dickson
Cst. Murdoch Graham #526
Cst. Bob Logie
Cst. Angus MacDonald
Cst. D.J. MacDonnell
Cst. S.T. Nott
Cst. Jack Purdy #788
Cst. George Williams #1027
The RCMP shouldered additional responsibilities throughout the Province of British Columbia with the demise of the B.C. Provincial Police in 1951.
- 1951 RCMP Cst. S.T.B. Scott (BC Provincial Police)
- 1962 October 31st New building opened.
- 1997 July 25th Gerry Brewer Building opened.
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