The City of Delta has appointed its first Sikh-Canadian Chief of Police. The Delta Police Board announced Thursday the appointment of Deputy Chief Harjinder (Harj) Singh Sidhu as the new Chief Constable of the Delta Police Department (DPD). “We are thrilled to announce Harj Sidhu as our new Chief,” said Board Chair Ian Tait. “With 31 years of dedicated service to our community and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Chief Sidhu brings a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge, and visionary leadership to this role.” Sidhu will assume leadership of the DPD on November 25, 2024.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

DELTA – The City of Delta has appointed its first Sikh-Canadian Chief of Police.

The Delta Police Board announced Thursday the appointment of Deputy Chief Harjinder (Harj) Singh Sidhu as the new Chief Constable of the Delta Police Department (DPD). 

Sidhu will assume leadership of the DPD on November 25, 2024.

“We are thrilled to announce Harj Sidhu as our new Chief,” said Board Chair Ian Tait. “With 31 years of dedicated service to our community and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Chief Sidhu brings a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge, and visionary leadership to this role.”

“This historic promotion — our first internal appointment to Chief in 38 years and the first South Asian Chief for Delta —reflects the strength of our department and our confidence in Sidhu’s ability to lead us into the future while continuing to foster trust, safety, and collaboration with the community,” added Tait.

“I am deeply honoured and grateful to the Delta Police Board for placing their trust in me to lead this incredible organization as its next Chief — a place I’ve been privileged to call home for the past 31 years,” stated Sidhu. “I am inspired daily by the dedication and professionalism of our people, and it is truly an honour to now lead such an exceptional team.”

“As Chief, my focus will be on working collaboratively with the Board, our officers, civilian staff and volunteers, community partners, and residents to ensure Delta remains one of the safest places to live, work, and play. Together, we will build on our strong foundation, strengthening trust, and building on our shared commitment to community safety and well-being,” said Sidhu.

The Board would also like to thank interim Chief Guy Leeson for his leadership during this transition period. An announcement regarding a change of command ceremony will be forthcoming.

 Sidhu has 31 years of dedicated service with the DPD, beginning his career in 1993 as a Recruit Constable. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience across a wide range of policing roles. As a Constable, he served in the Patrol Division, Youth Section, and Investigations. Rising through the ranks, he became a Sergeant leading the Drug/Special Projects Unit, and later served as a Staff Sergeant in both the Patrol Division and Investigative Services.

As an Inspector, Sidhu oversaw Investigative Support Services, the Operational Support Branch, and Special Projects. In 2018, he was promoted to Superintendent of the Community Policing Bureau, where he led all uniformed operations for the DPD. In 2021, he assumed the role of Deputy Chief of the Community Policing Bureau, a position he held until his promotion to Chief Constable.

Throughout his career, Sidhu has been dedicated to a community-first approach to policing, prioritizing community safety and well-being. He is actively involved in several external committees, including serving as Co-Chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Community Safety and Well-Being Committee, Co-Chair of the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP) Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Co-Chair of the BCACP Body Worn Cameras Special Committee.

Sidhu’s contributions to policing have been widely recognized, including awarding him with the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (M.O.M.) in 2022.

The national search process was led by a third-party professional search firm (PFM Executive Search) to find the most suitable candidate following the retirement of Chief Neil Dubord earlier this year. The process attracted numerous highly qualified candidates from across the country.