Julie Chanin easily recalls her primary school bike B次元官网网址� purple, with a banana seat and big Y handlebars.

What the deputy police chief remembers even more clearly, is the officer who led her elementary school bike rodeo.

She was in Grade 2 or 3 in the up-Island community of Chemainus where the B次元官网网址渂ike rodeo was a highlight of the spring.B次元官网网址�

Chanin remembers fondly the big smile and comfortable presence of then Const. Al OB次元官网网址橦alloran. The longtime RCMP officer retired in 2012 and died in 2016 from complications following a car crash.

B次元官网网址淭hat was my first experience with a police officer,B次元官网网址� Chanin said.

READ ALSO:

The positive impression lingering from decades ago as a young girl, makes up a formative part of the passion she brings to the role of chief constable of the Oak Bay Police Department starting June 1.

Officers who forged inroads in the field ahead of her as women also serve as inspiration as Chanin becomes the first female chief of police in the region. Trailblazing cops who are in leadership positions because of skill, ability and experience include StlB次元官网网址檃tlB次元官网网址檌mx Tribal Police Service Chief Const. Deborah Doss-Cody, Chief Suzanne Muir of Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Shawna Bahr, Chief Superintendent of Island District RCMP. Doss-Cody has been chief for more than 10 years.

Other inspirations come from within the department at Oak Bay where she joined in November 2011 and became deputy chief in April 2022 (also a first for the region). Those include the first female sergeant, now retired, Sheri Lucas and current Sgt. Sandrine Perry.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been fortunate IB次元官网网址檝e had very supportive mentors, supervisors. IB次元官网网址檝e felt supported regardless of my gender.B次元官网网址�

Then thereB次元官网网址檚 Chief Mark FisherB次元官网网址檚 commitment B次元官网网址� over two tenures in Oak Bay B次元官网网址� to developing officers, community engagement and maintaining high standards of policing.

B次元官网网址淭he work he has done has positioned me well for stepping into that role and I look forward to continuing on that path,B次元官网网址� Chanin said.

READ ALSO:

What excites her most is both the B次元官网网址渄edicated, passionate teamB次元官网网址� of 23 officers and assorted civilian staff as well as the community they serve. It shows in the way Oak Bay reports concern whether itB次元官网网址檚 fraud, property crime or traffic concerns.

B次元官网网址淭hey trust,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think it brings a lot of job satisfaction, we are so fortunate.B次元官网网址�

Her plan is to remain focused on relationships and strong community relations, and to maybe add a dedicated traffic officer. Among her goals, is to remedy the gap left as the school liaison officers program was pulled from public schools in the district.

B次元官网网址淚 see great value in the program,B次元官网网址� she said, noting there are people who donB次元官网网址檛 feel safe when they see a uniform, or even feel unsafe, which should be addressed.

B次元官网网址淎 resource has been removed but a gap is still remaining.B次元官网网址�

A youth/community outreach officer remains working in that field, but sheB次元官网网址檇 like to see two. A huge part of that comes back to her roots, targeting a positive first interaction with police.

READ ALSO: