RIDGE Meadows RCMP Superintendent Wendy Mehat has been promoted to Chief Superintendent and transferred to the BC RCMP’s Provincial Operations Support Team, that will oversee the decommissioning of the Surrey RCMP – including the oversight of the remaining RCMP operations to support the Surrey Police Service.
Mehat leaves Ridge Meadows RCMP after serving as the detachment’s Officer-in-Charge for the past four years.
Since joining the detachment, Mehat has created a lasting impact in the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, thanks to her exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to public safety, the Ridge Meadows RCMP said.
During her tenure as Officer-in-Charge of Ridge Meadows RCMP, Mehat was instrumental in implementing community-focused policing initiatives such as the Ridge Family and Youth Resources Support Team (Ridge FYRST) and Project C.O.R.E. (Community Policing, Outreach, Response and Enforcement). Her compassion and strength guided the detachment through a time of immense hardship: the on-duty death of Constable Rick O’Brien, ensuring members and staff had the supports needed to heal together.
“It has been an amazing four years as Officer-in-Charge as the detachment. We have seen some great times as well as very challenging times,” said Mehat. “But through it all, Ridge Meadows stands out as being one of the best and most memorable places I have ever worked in. It has been an honour to serve the communities of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and the Katzie First Nation.”
“Superintendent Wendy Mehat’s leadership and compassion has profoundly impacted our detachment and the communities we serve,” said Inspector Adam Gander, acting Officer-in-Charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP. “While we are sad to see her leave, we are excited for her as she takes on this well-deserved opportunity.”
MEHAT said in a statement:
As we prepare to transition from the Surrey RCMP to the BC RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, on behalf of the municipal employees and RCMP officers, I want to take a moment to express our collective gratitude for the opportunity to serve this community.
As the new Officer-in-Charge, returning to Surrey is a full-circle moment forme. I started my career here in 2000, as a patrol constable in Whalley. It is an immense honour to return the team here; a team which has always been dedicated to the safety and well-being of its residents. My heartfelt appreciation to Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards and the senior leadership team for their exceptional leadership over these past few years.
When the Surrey RCMP was first created in 1951, Surrey wasn’t yet a City, much more of a quiet suburb, with rolling farmland and small, family-run businesses. The Surrey RCMP team was also much smaller; fifteen constables patrolled the area for a salary of $210 per month. We have watched Surrey grow into the vibrant, bustling urban centre we all love. With considerable growth and increases in population, the team at the detachment also grew, to over 1,000 officers and staff to become the largest detachment in the country.
The Surrey detachment has been extremely fortunate to receive immense support and collaboration from community leaders and partner agencies throughout our time here, far too many to thank individually. By working together, the teams made significant strides in addressing local challenges, through joint initiatives like Block Watch or shared resources like the Safer School and Wrap programs. Be it community townhalls, combatting retail theft or planning and supporting the City’s events, these partnerships have been invaluable to us. It has been a great privilege for each of us to serve and support all of you, from South Surrey, to Newton, Cloverdale, Guildford, Fleetwood and Whalley/City Centre.
It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the five fallen RCMP officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to the City of Surrey. We are forever indebted to Constable John Baldwinson, Constable Terrance Draginda, Constable Archille Lepine, Constable Roger Pierlet and Constable Adrian Oliver. They remain in our hearts and minds and we will never forget their service and sacrifice.
Moving forward, you can still expect to see Frontline RCMP officers in Guildford, Cloverdale and South Surrey as we maintain all police operations in those neighbourhoods. You will also continue to see RCMP officers running Investigative Services for the majority of the city. These officers will maintain the responsibility for serious crimes, criminal collision investigations, drug and gang enforcement investigations. Hundreds of Surrey RCMP members will remain in the city, deployed now as members of the Provincial Operations Support Unit.
I want to recognize the officers and police support staff for their vital support and unwavering professionalism over the past five years as preparations were made for this transition. Their dedication and service has always been the beating heart of the Surrey RCMP. That dedication will remain at the forefront as we continue this shared responsibility to protect our city and serve our community.
This transition is expected to last over the next two years. Over the coming months, the members of the BC RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (previously Surrey RCMP) will work closely with the Surrey Police Service to ensure continuity in law enforcement operations. Rest assured, both agencies share a commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents. Many of our officers live in the city with their families, we are and will stay active participants in the greater community.
We understand that change can be difficult and our new BC RCMP team is dedicated to serving in the city as we have for the past 72 years. We are committed to continue to offer the same level of service, professionalism and community engagement that our residents expect. Our team of officers remains the same, now with a new name.
Thank you, residents, for allowing us to serve you. It has been our greatest honour.
