Adam Palmer

Chief Constable Adam Palmer took command as the 31st chief constable of the Vancouver Police Department on May 6, 2015. Chief Palmer was born and raised in the Vancouver area.

Prior to joining the VPD, he studied business administration at Simon Fraser University and worked as a correctional officer. Chief Palmer began his career with the VPD in 1987, and since that time has worked in a variety of operational, investigative, and administrative areas. He spent the first 13 years of his career working as a patrol officer in East Vancouver. He has also worked in the Jail, the Crowd Control Unit, the Gang Crime Unit, the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, Police/Crown Liaison, and the Planning, Research and Audit Section.

As a sergeant, he was extensively involved in the development of the VPD’s Strategic Plan, and managed a long-term review of policing operations at the VPD. The Operational Review project examined topical policing issues including the use of overtime, the civilianization of sworn positions, shared services with the City of Vancouver, and the deployment of patrol, investigative, and administrative police resources. The Operational Review resulted in improved departmental business practices and the addition of 194 police officers and 95 civilian staff positions between 2005 and 2007. This research has attracted interest from across North America and abroad. Chief Palmer has been invited to speak to other police agencies and at international police conferences on the methodology and findings of this project.

As an inspector, he was the officer in charge of Patrol District 2, which includes the Downtown Eastside, Chinatown, Gastown, Strathcona, Grandview-Woodlands, and Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhoods. He was also responsible for port and marine policing for the city of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Chief Palmer was seconded to the RCMP Integrated Security Unit as the Venue Commander for the Pacific Coliseum, where he oversaw the security for the figure skating and short track speed skating events.

Upon promotion to Deputy Chief in 2010, he was assigned to the Support Services Division, where he was responsible for Planning, Research and Audit, Professional Standards, Human Resources, Training, Recruiting, the Jail, Information Management, Information Technology, Communications, Fleet, Facilities, and Finance. He was then assigned to the Investigation Division where he was responsible for all investigative areas of the VPD including Major Crime, Special Investigations, Organized Crime, General Investigations, Forensic Services, Tactical Support, and Youth Services.

Chief Palmer has completed numerous policing and professional development courses throughout his career. He holds a bachelor of arts degree (Hons) and has completed two executive leadership programs with the FBI: Leadership in Counter-Terrorism and the National Executive Institute.

Chief Palmer serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) as the Past President of the CACP. In January 2019, Chief Palmer was elected to the Board of Directors for the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), which represents the largest police departments in the United States and Canada. Chief Palmer also serves as Chair on the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) Board of Directors, the National Executive Committee for the Criminal Intelligence Service of Canada (CISC), the Metro Vancouver Transit Police Board of Directors, and the Criminology Advisory Committee for Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, (IACP) as well as the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CKPN).

In 2009, Chief Palmer was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, and, in 2017, was promoted to the rank of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. In recognition of the national and international scope of his service and leadership, in 2020, Chief Palmer was advanced to the highest rank within the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, the rank of Commander, by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada. In 2021, Chief Palmer was awarded the Major Cities Chiefs Association Leadership Award. He is also the recipient of nine Vancouver Police Department Commendations and is a former VPD Police Officer of the Year.