The Saanich Police Department welcomed a new deputy chief early last month, who says he is proud to represent his Tsawout community.

Darrell (SELIME) Underwood was appointed on Feb. 3, beginning a new chapter in his prolific, 25-year career.  

The 47-year-old Tsawout First Nation member now oversees the police departmentB次元官网网址檚 administration, professional standards and staff development divisions, pulling on experience he has gained in 12 roles, across five Saanich PD divisions, since he was first hired as a patrol officer in 1999. 

B次元官网网址淚t's an honour to be selected,B次元官网网址� said Underwood. B次元官网网址淭here have been a lot of people that I've worked with through my career and alongside that have given me the knowledge and the expertise to continue to move forward.B次元官网网址�  

A small crowd gathered to celebrate UnderwoodB次元官网网址檚 appointment, including longtime friend and Tsawout Chief Abraham Pelkey.  

B次元官网网址淚t's a very significant thing to show that First Peoples of the local area and Indigenous people have that ability to take on such big roles outside our communities and make amazing impacts,B次元官网网址� he said.   

Underwood expressed a similar sentiment. 

B次元官网网址淚 carry a lot of honour representing my community B次元官网网址� meaning my Tsawout community B次元官网网址�  because, to be a person of significant rank, while also giving a lot of hope ... to others of my community, is pretty impactful,B次元官网网址� he said.  

Almost three decades before his appointment, Underwood was a student at StellyB次元官网网址檚 Secondary School in Saanichton. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where he was first introduced to the world of policing when his mother suggested he take part in a local police leadership program. 

B次元官网网址淚t was a program where students could go ... to learn some leadership capacity, but also ... about policing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou learn the radio, you also work a night shift B次元官网网址� you do a whole bunch of scenarios, simulated calls and things like that.B次元官网网址� 

Though policing intrigued him, Underwood was more interested in pursuing his passion for rugby. A member of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national sevens team, he played against the best of the best in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Fiji, Argentina and Uruguay. 

But it was at the leadership program that he caught wind of someone who had managed to juggle athletics and a policing career. 

B次元官网网址淭om Woods, who worked in Esquimalt, was a national rugby player and a police officer, and that's what basically put my mind to policing,B次元官网网址� he said. 

Between tackles, touches and tris, Underwood completed police academy training at the Justice Institute before beginning at Saanich PD. Later, a concussion forced him to give up rudgy.

The years following saw the deputy chief hop from position to position, including those in street and regional crime units, as well as professional standards, special investigations and community engagement sections.  He is now working on his MasterB次元官网网址檚 Degree in international police leadership online through Charles Sturt University in Australia. 

For new recruits seeking coveted positions like his, Underwood has one piece of advice. 

B次元官网网址淵ou're hired as who you are, and it's important not to change, to aspire to higher ranks or positions,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen you retire, the people that are greeting me at the back door are going to be my family and I'll still be Darryl Underwood.B次元官网网址�