Jennifer Hyland

Biography

Jennifer Hyland dedicated over 26 years to policing, beginning her career with the New Westminster Police Department located in British Columbia, Canada in 1998. Early in her service, she was recognized for developing a DNA registry for sex trade workers during the Missing Women crisis, work that contributed to the eventual conviction of Canada's most notorious serial killer Robert Pickton. In 2001, she joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where she spent the next two decades rising through the ranks in serious crime investigation. In 2017 she was promoted to Superintendent and appointed Officer-in-Charge (Chief of Police) of her hometown detachment, Ridge Meadows RCMP, located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. In 2021, she made the bold decision to leave the RCMP to help establish the new Surrey Police Service. A from the ground up start up police department. As Deputy Chief Constable of Support Services, she oversaw the recruitment of hundreds of officers and staff, the creation of health and wellness programs, and the development of training and professional standards. Her leadership and commitment to mentoring have been recognized internationally by the International Association of Women Police and nationally with her investiture into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in Canada. Throughout her career, Jennifer’s focus remained on the wellbeing of her officers and civilian colleagues, recognizing the profound toll of trauma exposure and the need for authentic organizational care. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and PTSD while she was the Chief of Police for her hometown, she worked to remain in operational policing ensuring that attention was paid to supporting all officers and staff during times of illness or stress. Now retired from policing, Jennifer continues to share her insights and experiences through various speaking engagements. She is the author of Tightrope: Balancing Duty with Courage and Conviction, a candid memoir that takes readers inside the realities of a life in policing, its challenges, its costs, and its enduring lessons of resilience and leadership.