Biography
Chu grew up in East Vancouver, the oldest son of four children of immigrants from Shanghai. He graduated from Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School, where he played rugby, in 1978. Joining the police department a year after his high-school graduation, he continued his education at the same time, going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. His police training includes the FBI Advanced SWAT course.
Chu has served in a number of investigative and support roles. As Sergeant in charge of recruiting, he developed the VPD's applicant guide and the department's first website in 1996. In 1997, he became an Inspector, and since then has supervised a number of transitions in the VPD's electronic communications technology, including the introduction of its current radio system and mobile computing system. In 2001, Chu was given command of District 4, which roughly corresponds to the Southwest quarter of Vancouver. Chu became a deputy chief in 2003, and was put in charge of the Support Services division, which handles human resources, information technology, planning and communications. It also includes the department's Financial Services Section, and Chu has earned recognition for his role in dealing with the department's cost overruns. In July 2007, Chu was placed in charge of the Operations Support division, which oversees criminal intelligence, emergency response and the gang and drug squads.
He is the author of a 2001 book, Law Enforcement Information Technology.
In May 2007, the Governor General awarded Chu the Order of Merit of Police Forces, for service beyond the call of duty. In 1999 he received the Super Trustee award from the British Columbia Library Trustees Association.
On June 21, 2007, Chu was named as the successor of Chief Constable Jamie Graham, who was set to retire in August. Chu assumed command of the department on August 14, the day police fatally shot a violent man on Granville Street.
On June 15, 2011, Chu was the Chief Constable of Vancouver as riots erupted in downtown Vancouver at the conclusion of game seven of the 2011 Stanley Cup final. Chu admitted that his department had not anticipated the events and was sorry that his department had not been able to respond earlier. He has rejected calls for his resignation over the riots.
Read more about this topic: Jim Chu
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