If you play your cards right (or wrong), you might just find yourself being ticketed or collared by the new top cop in North Van.
For Supt. Jayson Lucash, the newly appointed officer in charge of the North Vancouver RCMP, being the detachment commander is more than a desk job.
“I come from a Mountie family. My father and my uncle and my brother and my-sister-in-law and my wife are all Mounties, and I had another uncle who was a civilian member of the RCMP,” he said. “I’ve always been a frontline officer and been in charge of frontline, forward-facing sections.”
Lucash began his career with the RCMP in 1996 as a traffic officer in Maple Ridge. Since then, he’s taken on roles in almost every region of B.C., rising in rank and leadership positions along the way.
Although he has been officer in charge at other postings in B.C., North Vancouver RCMP’s detachment is the largest one he’s led.
Under Lucash, the North Vancouver RCMP is reviewing how its response model is working. As the detachment commander, Lucash will also have to help plan around the organization losing its Surrey detachment, which is now transitioning to a municipal police force.
Lucash said he he’s fully in favour of the “civilization” of tasks that don’t require the frontline officers.
“’I’m a big believer in using best practices in concert with the local governments and communities, getting what works best in a police service model for the North Shore,” he said. “The more time that our membership has to do proactive police activities, the better.”
In that respect, Lucash is putting his money where his mouth is, as he will still be going out on patrol when his schedule allows it, just as he did when leading smaller detachments.
“I’ve always enjoyed being in uniform, not really knowing where the day was going to take you,” he said. “I still pride myself on being able to sign into a vehicle ... and responding to calls for service and being out there with the frontline members.”
Out of uniform, Lucash said he and his wife are athletes with a great love of the outdoors and animals, including their three dogs and two horses. When they’re off duty, you’re most likely to find them on a lake, cycling or hiking trails.
“The North Shore is great – absolutely fantastic – for that. Let’s be honest, it’s pretty much world renowned for those types of things,” he said.
And, although he isn’t much for doughnuts, Lucash said the bakeries and coffee shops in his new jurisdiction are a step or two above what he’s been used to in more remote communities.
“I think my days of going to the coffee chains are long behind me. I’ve been introduced to some pretty fantastic coffee here on the North Shore,” he said.
Lucash formally takes over the position from Supt. William Yee who was put on leave in October 2022, while the RCMP carried out a review into allegations of misconduct. The details of the allegations and the results of that review were not made public. However, according to the RCMP, Yee was later reassigned.
Upon Lucash being named to the position, District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little and City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan issued statements welcoming him to the top role.
“I am confident that Supt. Lucash has the experience needed to bring leadership and stability to our detachment,” Little said.
“Public safety is every community’s top priority. The North Vancouver detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police plays an important role in the protection of city residents and their property,” Buchanan added. “I look forward to continuing to work with him on matters of public safety, community policing, and social resilience.”
