After 26 years of distinguished service with the Port Moody Police Department, Police Chief Chris Rattenbury has announced his plans to retire in 2017.

Chief Rattenbury joined the Port Moody Police Department April 1, 1990. For more than a quarter of a century he rose through the ranks, served the residents of Port Moody as constable, sergeant, inspector, deputy chief, and chief. 

Due to his extensive experience and exceptional leadership skills, he was selected to replace retiring Chief Brad Parker in 2013. Since that time he has lead the department through recruiting and significant change including the retirement of long-serving officers hiring of new officers, internal re-organization to support a community policing model and the introduction of a mental health officer.

“The men and women of this department are dedicated to ensuring we continually improve public safety through our community policing philosophy and our “no call too small” motto. Because of this, I feel very positive about the future for Port Moody,” says Chief Rattenbury.

Over the years, the Chief built strong relationships with other Metro Vancouver Policing agencies including new collaborative working agreements with the RCMP in neighbouring Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, as well as at the Provincial level. He worked diligently to implement the department’s strategic plan and service assessments, to ensure the City of Port Moody remains one of the safest communities in Canada. 

The Port Moody Police Board is extremely grateful to Chief Rattenbury for his long years of service, and appreciates his agreement to a one year contract extension until May 2017 to help with the transition.

“We know the Chief wants to follow through on a number of initiatives, including plans to support the introduction of the Evergreen Line in early 2017,” says Mayor Mike Clay, speaking on behalf of the Police Board. “He’s looking forward to his well-deserved retirement, and we sincerely appreciate his offer to assist the Board over the next year in identifying a successor to lead the department into the future.”

Chief Rattenbury says, “It has been a tremendous opportunity for me to work in Port Moody for the majority of my policing career. Although I will miss working with the staff at City Hall and the Police Department, I look forward to new challenges in my life after 35 years in policing.”

The extension of Chief Rattenbury’s contract means the Police Board has up to a year to select the next Chief Constable. The search for Port Moody’s next top cop begins immediately.