Jamie Graham

Infobox Officeholder


honorific-prefix =Chief Constable
name =Jamie H. Graham
honorific-suffix =
imagesize =
small| caption =
order =
office =Chief Constable of Vancouver
term_start =August 22, 2002
term_end =August 14, 2007
deputy chief constables =Bob Rich,
Jim Chu,
Doug LePard,
Bob Rolls
predecessor =Terry Blythe
successor =Jim Chu
birth_date =
birth_place =Belleville, Ontario
death_date =
death_place =
nationality =Canadian
party =
spouse =Gail Graham
relations =
children =none
residence =
alma_mater =
occupation =Police Chief
profession =
religion =


website =www.vpd.ca
footnotes =

Jamie Graham was the Chief Constable of Vancouver, British Columbia from August 22, 2002 to August 13, 2007. A former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, Graham was popular with his officers, but was occasionally subjected criticism by community groups and media outlets. Graham chose not to renew his five year contract with the Vancouver Police Department, ending his time as chief on August 22, 2007. Jim Chu was named as Graham's successor on June 21, 2007. Graham is currently a licensed security consultant/investigator and a member of the National Speaker’s Bureau. He is a supporter of numerous charities including the Law Enforcement Torch Run, Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Foundation, Cops for Cancer, Canadian Blood Services, Owl Society, Covenant House, Salvation Army to name a few. He is also a member of the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association’s Lay Inquiry Pool.

Graham was born in Belleville, Ontario. The son of a Canadian Army Colonel, he lived in Halifax, New Delhi, and Quantico, Virginia. He attended King’s College, a boarding school in Nova Scotia.Larry Pynn, “ [http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=09f66e55-b0f0-49fe-a511-3f0dd5f1200b Archives: Jamie Graham’s time as chief of police] ” in Vancouver Sun, June 14, 2007. Retrieved on June 23, 2007.]

He and his wife, lawyer Gail Graham, have been married 24 years and have no children.

Policing career

Graham was a 34-year veteran of the RCMP when he was hired as Vancouver’s chief constable. He was chosen for the job over a field of competitors for that included Larry Campbell, who went on to become Graham’s boss as Vancouver’s mayor. Graham was Chief Superintendent of the Surrey RCMP detachment from 2000 to 2002, and before that commanded the North Vancouver detachment from 1992 to 2000.Shannon Rupp, [http://www.straight.com/article/urban-general Urban General] in the Georgia Straight, December 1, 2005. Retrieved June 23, 2007.]

Graham was popular with his officers, and improved morale during his tenure. Former Vancouver mayor Philip Owen noted "He's a cop throughout, and that's what the members of the department like. They like a strong leader." Many officers describe him as the best chief in the history of the department.

In his role as chief constable, Graham was an active member of a number of policing and community organizations. He was a member of the by-law committee of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), and sat on the executive committee of the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada and the board of governance of the Combined Forces Special Investigation Unit. He took on a leadership role in the “Tier 1 Strategy” against outlaw motorcycle gangs. A former president of the British Columbia Association of Police Chiefs (BCAPC), Graham chaired its Gaming and Mental Heath committees, and represented the BCAPC on the board of the Integrated Illegal Gambling Enforcement Team. He was also a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade. Other organizations he has worked with include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the North Vancouver Restorative Justice Society, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. [ [http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/chief/jamiegraham.htm Office of the Chief Constable] ]

Graham established a Public Affairs and Marketing section in the department, the public relations branch for the police force.

Awards

The Governor General, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, appointed Jamie Graham a member of the Order of St. John on December 15, 2006. [ [http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20070428/html/house-e.html Canada Gazette] , Vol. 141, No. 17 — April 28, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.] .

Controversy and criticism

Graham and his department have been the subject of controversy during his term. The "Georgia Straight" newspaper has criticized Graham for being too entrenched in traditional police culture to effectively respond to problems of misconduct.

In January 2003, three men were beaten by police officers in Stanley Park. Graham recommended that six officers be charged in connection with the assault. He later fired two of them and imposed the maximum suspensions under the Police Act to the other four after they plead guilty to the charges.

Pivot Legal Society published [http://www.pivotlegal.org/Publications/reportstsap.htm "To Serve and Protect: A Report on Policing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside"] in 2002, which documented approximately 60 affidavits from people regarding police misconduct. Pivot also filed a number of complaints against the VPD with the Police Complaint Commissioner (PCC), Dirk Ryneveld. After an internal investigation by the Vancouver Police and the RCMP, no criminal allegations were found or substantiated. Two officers received minimal discipline. In 2005, Ryneveld issued a report stating, "What we do know is that RCMP ultimately reported the very regrettable circumstance of a lack of cooperation on the part of 'certain VPD members,' also incidents of non-responsiveness by the police chief himself." Mayor Sam Sullivan dismissed the non-cooperation complaint in May 2007, stating partly that there was no practical way to discipline a retiring police chief. Ryneveld overruled him, demanding that a further investigation take place.Jonathan Fowlie, with a file from Frances Bula [http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=5f2cd72b-b72f-442c-8969-feb4b19a441b&k=61462 "Watchdog orders probe of police chief,"] June 15, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.] Graham strongly denied obstructing the RCMP in any way, referring people to his published report on the matter. The new investigation is being handled by Jim Cessford of the Delta Police Department. [Carlito Pablo, [http://www.straight.com/article-107645/mayor-has-open-mind-in-police-re-review "Mayor has "open mind" in police re-review,"] , "Georgia Straight," August 30, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.]

During the 2005 municipal elections, Graham had Sam Sullivan, then a candidate for mayor, investigated for his admission that he had given money to addicts to buy drugs and allowed one to smoke crack in his van. An editorial in the "Georgia Straight" attacked the investigation as a political move. [ [http://www.straight.com/article/chief-sends-a-warning-to-sam-sullivan?# Chief sends a warning to Sam Sullivan] "Georgia Straight", December 1, 2001. Retrieved June 23, 2007.]

Graham and the Vancouver Police Department have expressed support for the principles behind Insite, Vancouver's controversial safe injection site, which has drawn criticism from conservative groups, including the RCMP. Noting that "our organization's [the VPD] primary responsibilities are safety and public order," Graham has supported any project that falls within the laws of Canada. [Mike Howell, [http://www.vancourier.com/issues06/054206/news/054206nn5.html "Keep safe injection site open-chief,"] "Vancouver Courier", May 26, 2006. Rretrieved June 23, 2007.]

In April 2006, RCMP investigators exonerated Graham from allegations of misappropriating funds related to a 2004 police conference. A employee had alleged that Graham and other police executives used complimentary hotels rooms during the convention.

In July 2006, Graham left a bullet-riddled shooting range target on the desk of city manager Judy Rodgers. Canadian Press July 26, 2006. "Vancouver's police chief investigated for leaving bullet target on desk."] On the target, Graham wrote: “A bad day at the range is better than the best day at work.” He later apologized to her for the incident.

External links

* [http://www.straight.com/node/60440 Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham rejects idea for Project Civil City commissioner]
* [http://www.straight.com/article/top-cop-profiles-homeless Top Cop Profiles Homeless]

Footnotes

Persondata
NAME = Graham, Jamie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Chief Constable of Vancouver
DATE OF BIRTH =
PLACE OF BIRTH = Belleville, Ontario
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =