Insp. Jennifer Hyland is the acting officer in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment, as the process of hiring a permanent replacement for Supt. David Fleugel is ongoing.
Fleugel retired from his career in the RCMP at the end of March, and is now the chief constable with the Port Moody Police Department, a municipal force.
Paul Gill, Maple Ridge general manager of corporate and financial services, said the superintendent is an employee of the RCMP, but the city is involved in the hiring process.
“We tell the RCMP the sorts of attributes we’re interested in, in the individual,” said Gill.
“We want somebody community minded, engaged with citizens, who can work with the city on a wide range of initiatives,” said Gill. “We’re looking for a partner.”
It was a homecoming when Hyland came to the Maple Ridge detachment in October 2016 as the operations officer. She had been with the detachment from 2006 to 2014. Her parents are both from Maple Ridge, and returned to their hometown in 1989 – just in time for Hyland to graduate from Garibaldi secondary.
She also served as the operations officer for the North Vancouver detachment, and has worked in Surrey with the RCMP. Started her career with the New Westminister municipal police force.
Gill said the city received “incredible service” from Fleugel, and wished him well.
Gill said there is no firm timeline for a replacement to start.