A swearing-in ceremony for the Abbotsford Police Department’s (APD) new deputy chief constable took place Tuesday.
Mike Serr will be responsible for the administration division of the APD. Serr shares the title of deputy chief with Dave Schmirler, who was appointed to the position over a year ago and is in charge of the APD’s operations division.
The two replace former deputy chiefs Len Goerke, who was named chief of the West Vancouver Police Department, and Rick Lucy, who retired after 33 years with the APD.
Serr began his policing career with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in 1990 after obtaining a bachelor of arts degree in criminology at Simon Fraser University.
He recently completed the Canadian Police College’s executive development program and critical incident commanders courses as well as the Institute for Strategic International Studies program of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. The latter took him to Norway and Denmark to study ways for improving outcomes for people with mental illnesses.
Over the past 25 years, Serr’s assignments with the VPD have included Strike Force, the Major Crime Section, the Integrated Gang Task Force, and the BC Municipal Undercover Program.
He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant in 2009 and worked in Patrol District 2, which includes the Downtown Eastside, the executive office, and the professional standards section.
In 2011, Serr was promoted to the rank of inspector and remained in the professional standards section. In 2013, he was assigned to the Organized Crime Section.
Serr is active nationally in committee work and is currently the chairperson on the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police’s drug abuse committee and co-chair of the National Working Group on Undercover Operations.
He was also on the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Tier Committee and the Major City Chiefs Intelligence Commanders Group.
Serr is the recipient of Chief Constable Commendations from both the VPD and APD. He is also the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Meritorious Service Award.
Serr and his wife Kirsten have been married for 24 years and have two children.