Outspoken West Vancouver police chief quits, citing personal reasons

After less than two years in charge of the West Vancouver Police Department, Kash Heed has resigned as chief constable.

"It has been an honour to serve the people of West Vancouver as chief constable," Kash Heed said in a release on Monday.

"I leave a department that is in good shape and well positioned to achieve its goal of making West Vancouver the safest community in Canada."

Insp. Jim Almas, a 28-year veteran of West Vancouver police, will serve as acting chief of the department, according to West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, who is also chair of the police board.

Goldsmith-Jones told CBC News that Heed submitted his resignation on Feb. 19, citing personal reasons for his decision.

A source in the B.C. legislature told CBC News the ruling Liberal Party has been wooing Heed to run as an MLA in Richmond in the May 12 provincial election. Heed was not available for comment Monday regarding his departure and future plans.

Goldsmith-Jones said the force is disappointed in Heed's resignation in the sense that he had signed a five-year contract and served less than two years of it. But she said the split is amicable and that Heed has had a great impact in his time with the department.

"He provided great leadership. He inspired many on the force. He obviously spoke his mind," she said.

She also said Heed created a far-reaching strategic plan for the department and implemented improved accountability and career development for its officers and staff.

Heed took over the West Vancouver Police Department in August 2007. During his tenure, he was outspoken about the need for a regional police force to tackle gang crime and the need to update discipline measures in the B.C. Police Act.

Before joining West Vancouver police, Heed had served as a Vancouver police officer for almost 30 years. He was shortlisted in June 2007 for the top job at the Vancouver Police Department, B.C.'s largest municipal police force, but that position went to Jim Chu.

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