Julie Chanin easily recalls her primary school bike – purple, with a banana seat and big Y handlebars.
What the deputy police chief remembers even more clearly, is the officer who led her elementary school bike rodeo.
She was in Grade 2 or 3 in the up-Island community of Chemainus where the “bike rodeo was a highlight of the spring.”
Chanin remembers fondly the big smile and comfortable presence of then Const. Al O’Halloran. The longtime RCMP officer retired in 2012 and died in 2016 from complications following a car crash.
“That was my first experience with a police officer,” Chanin said.
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The positive impression lingering from decades ago as a young girl, makes up a formative part of the passion she brings to the role of chief constable of the Oak Bay Police Department starting June 1.
Officers who forged inroads in the field ahead of her as women also serve as inspiration as Chanin becomes the first female chief of police in the region. Trailblazing cops who are in leadership positions because of skill, ability and experience include Stl’atl’imx Tribal Police Service Chief Const. Deborah Doss-Cody, Chief Suzanne Muir of Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Shawna Bahr, Chief Superintendent of Island District RCMP. Doss-Cody has been chief for more than 10 years.
Other inspirations come from within the department at Oak Bay where she joined in November 2011 and became deputy chief in April 2022 (also a first for the region). Those include the first female sergeant, now retired, Sheri Lucas and current Sgt. Sandrine Perry.
“I’ve been fortunate I’ve had very supportive mentors, supervisors. I’ve felt supported regardless of my gender.”
Then there’s Chief Mark Fisher’s commitment – over two tenures in Oak Bay – to developing officers, community engagement and maintaining high standards of policing.
“The work he has done has positioned me well for stepping into that role and I look forward to continuing on that path,” Chanin said.
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What excites her most is both the “dedicated, passionate team” of 23 officers and assorted civilian staff as well as the community they serve. It shows in the way Oak Bay reports concern whether it’s fraud, property crime or traffic concerns.
“They trust,” she said. “I think it brings a lot of job satisfaction, we are so fortunate.”
Her plan is to remain focused on relationships and strong community relations, and to maybe add a dedicated traffic officer. Among her goals, is to remedy the gap left as the school liaison officers program was pulled from public schools in the district.
“I see great value in the program,” she said, noting there are people who don’t feel safe when they see a uniform, or even feel unsafe, which should be addressed.
“A resource has been removed but a gap is still remaining.”
A youth/community outreach officer remains working in that field, but she’d like to see two. A huge part of that comes back to her roots, targeting a positive first interaction with police.
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