The City of Maple Ridge and the City of Pitt Meadows have selected Jennifer Hyland as the new officer in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP detachment.
Hyland has 19 years of policing experience, including work in the Serious Crime Investigations Section and Professional Standards.
Her policing career began with the New Westminster Police Department. She moved to the RCMP in 2001.
Hyland served at the Ridge Meadows detachment from 2006 until 2014, when she transferred to the North Vancouver and was promoted to inspector.
She returned to the Ridge Meadows detachment in October 2016 and has been serving as acting officer in charge since superintendent David Fleugel retired from the RCMP and took the position of chief constable with Port Moody police.
As part of her new position, Hyland will be promoted to the rank of superintendent.
Hyland has lived in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows for many years and is a graduate of Garibaldi secondary. Her husband is also a police officer, and together have two children. She said they feel very connected to the area through their involvement in their children’s school, minor sports and community events.
“Back in 2010, then Sgt. Jennifer Hyland played a key role in the establishment of the Alisha’s Wish Child and Youth Advocacy Centre here in Maple Ridge, to create a better way of dealing with victims of abuse. This is a program and approach that has gained national attention and reflects creativity and innovation on a very tough issue,” said Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read.
“On behalf of the citizens of Maple Ridge, I am very pleased to welcome Jennifer Hyland as the new officer in charge for the Ridge Meadows detachment. Supt. Hyland represents the highest ideals of her profession and has a passion for justice and community safety,” Read added.
Hyland is humbled and honoured to be appointed officer in charge of the local detachment.
“I am very familiar with the area and understand our strengths and challenges,” she said. The detachment is full of amazing people who are dedicated to the safety and well-being of our communities and I look forward to leading them. Some of my mentors have previously held this position and I am so proud to follow in their footsteps.”