Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Steve Rai will helm the BC Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police as its new president, making the veteran cop the first South Asian officer to hold the position.

Rai has been a member of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) since 1990. He was born in Punjab, India, and raised in Vancouver where he graduated from Kitsilano Secondary School.

The association is the main voice for the police forces of Vancouver, Victoria, New Westminister, Abbotsford, West Vancouver, Port Moody, Delta, Nelson, Oak Bay, Saanich and Central Saanich as well as Metro Vancouver Transit Police and the First Nations Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police.

“I accept the role with respect and great purpose as there are many public safety demands our communities are grappling with,” Rai told the South Asian Post.

“The BCAMCP police chiefs are responsible for policing some of our largest cities. Collectively, we'll continue to ensure our strategies and resources are focused on common solutions. And, when necessary, our Association will be strong advocates for legislative changes on behalf of our citizens,” he said.

“Crime fighting has evolved in today's policing world, where tackling social issues is as much a part of law enforcement as chasing down criminals. The BCAMCP understands this and strives to meet the challenges on behalf of our communities.”

Prior to joining VPD, Rai was a Canadian Forces Reserve member and attended the University of British Columbia where he completed a bachelor of arts degree in Asian studies. He also completed a master of arts in criminal justice from the University of the Fraser Valley.

In addition to his regular duties, Deputy Chief Constable Rai completed a number of concurrent assignments, including ten years as an Emergency Response Team Hostage Negotiator, six years with the VPD’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team and three years with the Forensic Interview Team, utilizing his Punjabi second language skills.