RCMP Honours Lifesaving and Community Policing in Upper Fraser Valley
Section 1: Community Safety Recognition Overview
On April 15, 2026, the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP held its Officer in Charge Awards Ceremony at the Chilliwack Arts & Cultural Centre, recognizing outstanding contributions to public safety and community service. A total of 42 people—including police officers, civilian employees, key justice partners, and community members—were formally acknowledged for acts of bravery, operational excellence, innovation, and long-term dedication.
Senior RCMP leaders, local officials, colleagues, and family members attended as awards were presented for lifesaving interventions, crime reduction initiatives, youth and community programs, and Long Service Medals. From complex drug investigations and targeted crime-prevention programs to water-safety efforts and youth engagement, the event highlighted how coordinated policing and community action improve safety across the Upper Fraser Valley region, including communities tracked in our Fraser Valley C crime and safety statistics.
Section 2: Official Details From the RCMP
Excellence in Innovation and Performance
The Chilliwack Crime Prevention Team was honoured for building the Business Watch Program from the ground up in Chilliwack. Team members Michelle, Laura, Kathy, Brenda, Asees, and Manjot created a modern, partnership-based crime-prevention model to support local businesses through education, proactive outreach, and problem-focused strategies.
- Delivered ongoing crime-prevention education to local businesses.
- Strengthened day-to-day communication between businesses and the RCMP.
- Helped reduce risk and improve situational awareness around property and business-related crime.
Excellence in Performance – Justice System Partners
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) was recognized as a critical partner in advancing investigations and achieving fair outcomes in court.
- Kaitlin Kuefler, Federal Crown Prosecutor, was honoured for her work on a multi-jurisdictional drug-trafficking investigation launched in 2023, which led to the conviction and sentencing of four individuals after extensive preparation and courtroom advocacy.
- Senior Paralegal Tanis Johnston was recognized for managing numerous complex investigative files for the Upper Fraser Valley and for her guidance on disclosure, follow-up, and procedures alongside the Chilliwack Crime Reduction Unit.
Lifesaving Interventions
Several officers and a civilian were commended for directly saving lives under intense pressure:
- November 2025 – Cst. Glenn Culpepper and Cst. Mat Ladouceur responded to an unconscious individual, performed CPR, and continued emergency care until the person regained consciousness and was taken to hospital.
- October 2025 – Cst. Kyle Haddow responded to a person in medical distress with no vital signs, administered CPR until paramedics arrived, and successfully revived the individual.
- August 2025, Chilliwack bridge area – Cst. April Bradley, Cst. Ryan Pighin, and civilian Cadence Born safely intervened with a person in crisis near a bridge, working together to bring the individual to safety and connect them with appropriate care.
The RCMP notes that in each of these cases, fast, compassionate, and decisive actions directly prevented loss of life.
Drug-Trafficking Investigation Support
Cst. Evan Inkman was acknowledged for his role assisting another police agency in a drug-trafficking investigation in April 2025 near Hope.
- Received urgent information from a partner police service about a suspect vehicle travelling through the Hope area.
- Used his knowledge of local routes to quickly locate and safely stop the vehicle.
- The roadside stop led to the seizure of a significant quantity of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, contributing directly to the successful investigation.
Community Service and Youth Initiatives
- Cst. Bradley Holditch received an award for launching the Kids Don’t Float water-safety program at Cultus Lake, including the creation of two free life-jacket lending stations to prevent drownings for all age groups.
- The Youth Adventures Day Club at Kawkawa Lake—led by Executive Director Dave Murphy, Administrative Director Alicia Murphy, and Program Manager Samantha Kelley—was honoured for its role in providing at-risk youth in Hope with a neutral space to build positive relationships with police, which has coincided with fewer negative police interactions and increased interest in law-enforcement careers.
- Cst. Brad Kelsey initiated a winter-clothing drive for vulnerable youth in Chilliwack, which rapidly expanded with support from the City’s Public Safety and Social Development team and resulted in more than 100 winter coats being distributed through community agencies.
- Cst. Nicole Richardson was recognized for organizing the first-ever Hope RCMP Youth Career Day in June 2025, bringing specialized RCMP units together to provide hands-on demonstrations and career information to youth from Hope and Boston Bar, generating strong interest in policing careers.
Long Service Medals
- Staff Sergeant Paul Vadik – Recognized for 30 years of RCMP service across multiple communities and units, including front-line policing, specialized investigative sections, detachment leadership roles in Whistler and Pemberton, training responsibilities in Chilliwack, and supervisory duties in Coquitlam and Surrey. He continues to serve as a Watch Commander for frontline policing in Chilliwack.
- Sergeant Matthew LaBelle – Recognized for 20 years of service beginning in 2004, with experience in frontline duties and Highway Patrol in Alberta, supervisory work in Manitoba, leadership in Traffic Services and collision investigations in British Columbia, and his current role in Professional Standards in Chilliwack. His career spans several provinces and key public-safety functions.
Section 3: CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, ceremonies like this matter for community safety in British Columbia because they highlight concrete examples of prevention, intervention, and accountability that shape real outcomes on the ground. Lifesaving medical responses, drug-trafficking disruptions, business watch programs, and youth engagement camps all contribute to safer streets and stronger trust between residents and police. In areas such as the broader Fraser Valley—monitored in our Fraser Valley H crime and safety data—these collaborative approaches help reduce victimization and improve quality of life. CrimeCanada.ca encourages residents to stay informed, participate in local prevention initiatives like business watch or water-safety programs, and promptly report emergencies or suspicious activity to police or Crime Stoppers to support these ongoing safety efforts.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the british-columbia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.