Transit Police chief earns master’s degree, hopes to set an example
Chief Doug LePard has built his 36-year policing career on protecting and serving — and most recently, expanded that to include studying, too.
LePard, a former deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department and the current chief of the Transit Police, graduated Tuesday from the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford with a master’s degree in criminal justice.
He was also awarded the Governor General’s Gold Medal for his near-perfect 4.23 grade point average.
“It was great. I never went to my grad for my undergraduate degree because I was too busy working, so it was the first grad I’d been to since high school and it was good,” he said, adding it was a “gift” for his family to be able to witness his achievement.
LePard had previously studied criminology and received his bachelor’s from Simon Fraser University, and had hoped to pursue a master’s degree beginning in 2002.
But when he was promoted to deputy chief of the Vancouver police, he decided to put his educational goals on hold to focus his attention on the missing women’s file, of which he was put in charge.
Then two years ago, LePard decided it was time to revisit that goal. He enrolled in a program at UFV specifically designed for working professionals and was able to schedule his coursework around his job and his family.
His two daughters were also enrolled in university at the time.
“I think they might have thought I was a little bit crazy, but I think that they were proud of me,” LePard said Wednesday.
The cohort-based program consisted of 14 students from various backgrounds, across different industries. The group met once a month for three days of coursework over a 20-month period. In total, LePard completed nine courses and a major research project as part of the program.
LePard’s project looked at the potential uses of GPS in monitoring prisoners whose warrants have expired or dangerous offenders who have been released after serving their full sentence.
Partway through the program, LePard juggled his classwork while he left his post as deputy chief with the VPD to become chief of Transit Police.
“I wanted to set a good example of the importance of lifelong learning — both in my own family for my daughters but also in the workplace,” he said.
“You’re never too old to challenge yourself and learn more, and I think that it is incumbent on people in leadership positions to make sure that they are continuing to learn from the start of their career to the end of the career.”
LePard has previously received the B.C. Attorney General’s award for his service to victims, a Lieutenant-Governor’s award for saving a drowning man, and an award for outstanding contributions to ending violence against women.
He was also invested as an Officer of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces by the Governor-General of Canada, and in 2013, was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. But as for a graduation gift, LePard is tightlipped about what’s on his wish list.
“I did get some nice and funny cards from my family and at work, and just having them there was great,” he said. “I know that they actually want to buy me a nice gift, but I won’t tell them any good ideas.”