The City of Burnaby officially has a new top cop – but it’s a familiar face.
After a nationwide search, the city tapped the man who’s been leading the Burnaby RCMP since February, when former Chief Supt. Deanne Burleigh retired.
Chief Supt. Graham de la Gorgendiere joined the detachment in January 2019, stepping into the role of operations officer, according to a city news release.
He began his RCMP career in 1997 in Mission, B.C. and has spent all of it in the Lower Mainland, including stints with the South West District major crimes unit and the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment.
He has also worked as an investigator and accredited team commander with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).
During the devastating 2017 wildfire season, de la Gorgendiere served as bronze commander in the RCMP’s North District.
Before coming to Burnaby, he also served as chair of the E Division major case management committee and spent two years with the Office of Investigative Standards and Practices and Legal Application Support Team.
“It is the highest honour of my career to serve as Burnaby RCMP’s Officer-in-Charge,” de la Gorgendiere said in the city news release. “I am looking forward to leading the detachment forward and building relationships within our community. I am proud to work with our experienced and diverse staff of police and municipal employees who share my commitment to serving this community and working together to make Burnaby safer.”
De la Gorgendiere’s official start date was Wednesday.
“Public safety is a priority in Burnaby and we know our city will be well-served by Graham’s strong leadership and experience,” Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release. “We are pleased to welcome him to this position and look forward to working together to further strengthen public safety.”
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