New Westminster Police Department Chief Const. Dave Jansen is set to retire as the city’s top cop this summer.
At the Jan. 16 police board meeting, Jansen announced he is retiring as of Oct. 26; with accumulated holidays, his final day on the job will be June 28.
“All I ever wanted to do was be a police officer,” he told the board. “New Westminster gave me a chance.”
Jansen said it’s been an incredible privilege to work for the New Westminster Police Department. He joined the NWPD in 1990.
“It’s become my home. It’s become my community now,” said the New West resident. “It’s not just a place that I work.”
Jansen said he’s striven to bring a “human touch” to the role of chief constable.
“I truly care about the city,” he said. “I truly care about the people who work here.”
Jansen told the board that members of the New Westminster Police Department’s leadership team are ready to step up and take on whatever role the board requires of them.
“Now it is the time for someone else to take the department to the next level,” said Jansen, adding he’s looking forward to spending more time with his daughter.
After a national search, the New Westminster police board appointed the 30-year policing veteran as the city’s chief constable in June 2020. He had been serving as acting police chief since the departure of former police chief Dave Jones in April 2019.
Mayor Patrick Johnstone, chair of the police board, said policing was something he had to learn more about after becoming mayor in the October 2022 civic election. He thanked Jansen for making it “much easier” for him to step into his new role with the police board.
“You have really led with your heart and with community in mind,” he said.
In a NWPD news release, Johnstone said the board hired Jansen based on his extensive policing experience, his strong reputation as a leader, and his strength in building relationships to address some of the root causes of crime.
“We are confident in saying he will be greatly missed not only by the board, but by the many organizations he has been partnering with over the years to achieve the board’s mission of modernizing community safety, investing in our people, and listening to the residents of New Westminster,” Johnsone said.
The police board is now in the process of identifying and appointing a successor who will continue the work started by Jansen and further build on improving the New Westminster Police Department.
“During his four years as chief constable, Dave Jansen steered the New Westminster Police Department through periods of change including the decriminalization, the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls for police reform, all of which resulted in notable changes for the department,” said the news release. “Under Chief Jansen’s leadership, the police department prioritized staff wellness, setting the bar for officer safety during the COVID-19 pandemic with a ground-breaking deployment model. This deployment model reduced the risk for officers and ensured continuity of police resources.”
During his time at the helm, Jansen also oversaw the department’s participation ini new integrated teams and the creation of the NWPD communications operations centre.
“I have genuinely enjoyed my time at the New Westminster Police Department, working alongside so many dedicated staff,” Jansen said in a news release. “We’re here to serve the residents of our community and that’s what our job is – it’s one of service.”
Inspector retiring
Jansen’s pending departure was not the only retirement announced at Tuesday’s police board meeting.
Jansen announced that Insp. Trever Dudar is retiring as of April 1.
Dudar joined the New Westminster Police Department in 1998, after beginning his policing career in 1990 with the Taber Police Service. He’s filled numerous roles in the department, and is currently the inspector in charge of the patrol division.
“He is going to be greatly missed,” Jansen said.
Jansen noted that Dudar took a real interest in road safety issues during his time with the police department.
Johnstone acknowledged Dudar’s leadership in the department and his efforts in policing, including road safety.
“I appreciate that work,” he said. “So thank you, and congratulations.”
