Jim Chu

Jim Chu, COM (simplified Chinese: 朱小荪; traditional Chinese: 朱小蓀; pinyin: zhū xiǎosūn) was the Chief Constable of the British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP), serving from 14 August 2007 until his retiring from the constabulary on 6 May 2016. Chief Constable Chu was succeeded by current Chief Constable Anthony Allison Milo.

Biography
Chu grew up in East Vancouver, the second oldest of four children of immigrants from Shanghai. He graduated from Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School, where he played rugby, in 1978. Joining the police a year after his graduation from secondary school, he continued his education at the same time, going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. His police training includes the FBI Advanced SWAT course and the FBI National Executive Institute, which he received in the United States on sponsorship from the constabulary.

Chu has served in a number of investigative and support roles. As staff sergeant in charge of recruiting, a position to which he was promoted in 1993, he developed the LMC's applicant guide and the constabulary's first website in 1996, by which time he was already an inspector. In 1997, he became a detective inspector, and in 1998 a superintendent, and since then has supervised a number of transitions in the constabulary's electronic communications technology, including the introduction of its current radio system and mobile computing system. In 2001, he was promoted to chief superintendent and given command of the Patrol Directorate's "D" Division, which roughly corresponds to the west side of Vancouver, as well as Richmond, Steveston and adjacent municipalities including Point Grey and the University Endowment Lands (which includes UBC). Chu was promoted to assistant chief constable in 2003 and put in charge of the Communications and Logistics Directorate, which handles information technology, planning and communications; the directorate also includes the constabulary's financial and budgetary section, and Chu earned recognition for his role in dealing with many cost overruns. In July 2005, he was placed in charge of the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), which oversees major crimes investigation, criminal intelligence, and the gang and drug squads.

He is the author of a 2001 book, Law Enforcement Information Technology.

In May 2006, the President of Canada awarded Chu the Order of Merit of Police Forces, for service beyond the call of duty. The same year, he was promoted again, becoming the Lower Mainland Constabulary's Deputy Chief Constable, of which there is always only one. On June 21, 2007, Chu was named as the successor of Chief Constable Jamie Graham, who was set to retire in August. Chu assumed command of the constabulary as Chief Constable on 14 August 2007. Chu served as Chief Constable during the 2010 Winter Olympics and was Chief Constable during the riots which erupted in downtown Vancouver at the conclusion of game seven of the 2011 Stanley Cup final.

He was elected for a two-year term as President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in 2013 and advocated for a ticketing option for possession of small amount of marijuana and better training for police officers to serve the mentally ill.

As he wound down his 36-year policing career, with almost eight years as Chief Constable, he was especially proud of the falling crime in the city, improved relations with marginalised people in the Downtown Eastside and with Vancouver's First Nations community, and the constabulary's work in advocating for the mentally ill. On 25 May 2015, he became the first municipal police officer in BC to receive the Police Officer Commission—a new provincial honour that recognises senior officers for professionalism and dedication to policing. The same month, Chu retired from the service.

In July 2015, Chu joined the Aquilini Investment Group as a Vice President. He has also served on the Board of TransLink.