When Supt. Derren Lench transferred to the Burnaby RCMP in 2011, he knew he would be taking on a lot more responsibility as the second-in-command to Chief Supt. Dave Critchley.
What he didn't know was how much fun and professional fulfilment he would have in just one year.
"I've been very impressed with the great chemistry between all layers of employees in Burnaby," said the South Surrey resident, who has 31 years of RCMP experience. "We have a great cross-section of volunteers and civilian employees who work so well with the officers we have in Burnaby. - Because of that, we have achieved a lot of strong results in combating crime."
Lench cited the recent arrests of people involved in violent robberies as evidence of the good work of the city's Strike Force unit.
"We have had some success in solving cases of both personal and commercial robberies," said Lench. "We are putting resources into it and getting results."
Lench oversees three inspectors, and, as the assistant officer in charge of the Burnaby RCMP, he is Critchley's main eyes and ears on the ground.
But there's so much more to the man who grew up in Sidney on Vancouver Island and became a cop at the age of 20.
Because RCMP officers couldn't serve in their home province when he enlisted, Lench spent the first 14 years of his policing career in Alberta, everywhere from small villages like Kitscoty near Lloydminster to Drumheller, where he met his wife, Mona.
After doing some immigration and passport work for the RCMP in Calgary, Lench also spent time in Prince George doing forensic work.
A seven-year stint in Ottawa was followed by a return to B.C. in 2005, where his responsibilities included overseeing the 350-plus employees who staff the 911 centres in the province.
A transfer to Surrey and then to Ridge Meadows, where his media appearances made him the face of the detachment, led him to Burnaby in 2011.
One initiative in Burnaby has captured Lench's attention.
"Community policing is very strong in the city," said Lench.
"It's something I've taken an interest in."
So much so that Lench is in the process of completing a community policing course through the Canadian Police College, where 24 officers - 12 from Canada and 12 from Hong Kong - learn about community policing strategies that have worked in their jurisdictions.
When Lench finishes the course in October, the final component will be a trip to Hong Kong to see first-hand what is working there.
"The goal is to see how communities can find ways to own their neighbourhoods," he said. "I'm learning a lot of interesting things."
It's not all work and no play for the father of two.
Son Brendan, 23, works for ICBC, and daughter Hayley, 22, is a social worker on Vancouver Island.
And it was with Brendan that Lench had one of his most memorable experiences.
An avid runner, Lench qualified for the 2011 Boston Marathon by running a time of 3: 33 - beating the standard by two minutes.
When father and son arrived in Boston, they had time to go see Game 2 of the Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens first-round series.
"The Canadiens won that game, but we know what happened afterwards," said Lench of the eventual Stanley Cup champions from Beantown.
For the actual marathon, Lench finished in a respectable 3: 46 and discovered that Heartbreak Hill is indeed a hurting place.
"Heartbreak Hill comes at around mile 20, and I had done a pretty big hill at mile 18 and even at mile 19," said Lench.
"I had a pulled hamstring, and then I get to Heartbreak Hill, and it was a killer."
Lench walked off his hamstring injury and finished at Copley Square while Brendan cheered him on.
"I never gave a thought to not finishing," said Lench. "You learn to walk or slow down if you're hurting, but I was going to finish."
Lench also remembers some of the more humorous moments from that cold April day.
"It was freezing, the wind was blowing, and when they bus you out to the start line, there wasn't enough bathroom facilities," said Lench. "You had all these people in this little grassy area, male and female."
Lench runs around Deer Lake in his spare time and also takes time to play hockey and golf, two more passions of his.
"I golf at Fort Langley, and I love golfing at Morgan Creek (in Surrey)," said Lench, referencing a recent round at Fort Langley, where he took a 10 on the signature 15th hole, a dogleg that has vexed many a duffer.
He absolutely adores Morgan Creek, but it's one of the pricier tracks in the city and not one that many golfers do on a regular basis.
"I don't chip and putt as well as I should," said Lench. "I'm a bogey golfer who hits the driver and long irons pretty well."
As for one final Lench anecdote, he knows that his name is often misspelled.
"I get Darryl and Darren a lot," said Lench, "My fraternal twin brother's name is Warran. My parents must've had a thing for having the same letters in our names."
www.twitter.com/AlfieLau
