Sikh-Canadian Kashmir Singh Heed has become the Canada's first Sikh to become police chief of  West Vancouver, British Columbia ("B.C.") with effect from August 2, 2007.

Kash Heed, as he's popularly known, will bring "real strengths as an innovator, leader and team builder", Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, chair of the city's police board, said in making the announcement on June 26.

Heed, an author who also teaches criminology and criminal justice at two B.C. colleges, was also on the shortlist for the top job in Vancouver, the province's largest municipal police force. That position went to Deputy Chief Jim Chu.

The West Vancouver force has been without a chief since January, when Scott Armstrong was let go, following allegations of after-hours drinking on police premises.
 
Goldsmith-Jones said the police board conducted a lengthy search, with candidates from across the country, and Heed fit the bill.

"West Vancouver has a great tradition of excellent service", he said in a statement. "I hope to build on this to make West Vancouver nothing short of the safest community in Canada".

Heed graduated from the B.C. Police Academy in 1979, and moved through the ranks of constable, detective, sergeant, inspector and currently, superintendent with the Vancouver Police Force.

He pioneered initiatives aimed at crime reduction and prevention as well as greater community and police engagement. He led the Indo-Canadian Task Force and inspired the formation of grassroots organizations dedicated to preventing gang violence.

West Vancouver Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Skelton said Heed's well-rounded policing background in Vancouver will be a huge benefit.

"It's in close proximity to West Vancouver, so we share a lot of the same people we're dealing with", Skelton stated. "I think it'll be an easy transition for him and I think it'll be something we're looking forward to".