Burnaby’s next top cop will be a “superior communicator and innovator with a relational and collaborative leadership style” if Mayor Mike Hurley has anything to say about – and he does.
With the retirement of Chief Supt. Deanne Burleigh last week, the search is on for the city’s next officer in charge.
Much of that process is in the hands of the RCMP, but the final decision will be made “in very close consultation and consideration of input from our mayor,” according to City of Burnaby public safety director Dave Critchley.
The RCMP will start by selecting a small pool of qualified candidates (three or four) from across the national organization, according to Critchley.
“All qualified commissioned officers in the RCMP would be reviewed,” he told the NOW in an email. “In addition, the RCMP will advertise the vacancy internally and request qualified candidates to apply.”
Once the candidates have been picked, they’ll be interviewed by an interview board consisting of an observer from RCMP Executive/Officer Development and Resourcing (E/ODR), a senior officer from Lower Mainland District RCMP or RCMP E Division headquarters, Hurley and a senior city staffer at the mayor’s discretion.
According to the city’s policing contract, the RCMP ultimately has the final say, according to Critchley, but the Mounties have “significantly increased the participation and input from the mayors in the selection of an OIC, as compared to years ago,” he said.
When asked what he’ll be looking for in a new top cop, Hurley started by applauding the outgoing OIC, saying he’ll miss his “great working relationship” with her.
“She is an outstanding leader as was clearly evidenced by the respect she had amongst those who worked for her,” he said.
In a send-off for Burleigh at a Feb. 8 city council meeting, Hurley said, “Deanne set the stage for the style of policing that all communities strive for – maintaining the rule of law while staying accessible, approachable and dependable, regardless of the challenging situation.”
He said he’ll be looking for much the same thing in Burnaby’s next top cop.
The successful candidate will have to be a “superior communicator/innovator with a relational and collaborative leadership style,” who will be able to enhance organizational effectiveness, efficiency and accountability; improve internal culture, morale, and health and wellness; and increase strategic partnerships and programs, according to Hurley.
He said he’ll be looking for “a leader with a vision who is visible in our community.”
Burleigh doesn’t technically retire till June (she’s taking unused vacation time till then), but Supt. Graham de la Gorgendiere has taken over officer-in-charge duties until her replacement is found.
How long that process will take depends on a number of factors, according to Critchley, including how long it takes the RCMP to pick its candidate pool and whether the successful candidate will have to move across the country to work here.
“We have stressed the importance of the OIC position being filled as soon as possible given the key role,” he said.
The process generally takes a couple months from start to finish, he said, but the pandemic could actually speed it up since interviews will likely happen over Zoom.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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