Mayor Linda Hepner introduced McDonald at a news conference on Tuesday at Surrey RCMP headquarters in the same room where McDonald had written his entrance exam for the force 24 years earlier.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine that one day I would be coming back as the officer in charge. I am excited about this opportunity,” McDonald told journalists, police officers and city councillors gathered for the announcement.

“As a child, I always … had a romantic vision of policing, the adventure and the excitement.”

He grew up in a family of boys — two brothers now live and work in the U.S. One is in the military and the other is a minister.

“I often say we are all fighting evil in our own way,” McDonald said. “I was always attracted by that notion. But again, at the heart of it for me, it is about helping people.”

He spent his youth in Guildford and Whalley. His father is still a pastor in Surrey.

McDonald, 48, earned a degree at Simon Fraser University before joining the RCMP in 1995. He started as a constable in Burnaby and later became a senior investigator with the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

In 2011, he was put in charge of the investigation into the gangland slaying in Kelowna of Red Scorpion Jonathan Bacon. Three rival gangsters have been charged with Bacon’s murder and are now awaiting trial.

Two years ago, McDonald became the head of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team — the largest such squad in the country, with over 100 officers and support staff.

Hepner said McDonald’s experience makes him the perfect candidate to take over the vacancy left by the promotion of Asst. Commissioner Bill Fordy.

“Chief Supt. McDonald has earned the respect of those who work for him and with him. His style is to lead from the front, not watch from the sidelines,” she said.

McDonald said he plans to build on the successes of his predecessor on the job.

“I will strive to build on what has proven successful and look for innovative and collaborative solutions to current and future challenges,” he said.

Asked about the high-profile gang violence in the city in recent years, McDonald said, “We need to remain on top of not only enforcement actions, but I think more importantly engaging our youth early.”

“Most of the individuals involved in this drug war or turf war are young people, and the city of Surrey and the RCMP have done an excellent job of putting programs in place to try and get ahead of that. Certainly, prevention is much cheaper than enforcement. So that’s what we will continue to do.”

But he also said he wouldn’t be afraid to make changes in strategy if necessary.

“I am certainly open to change. There is no point in making change if it’s not required. But I think any police chief, anyone in my position, needs to take a step back and be open to hearing feedback and take a look at what’s working and not working. If it’s not working, we need to change it,” McDonald said.

“We will provide a public safety model in Surrey that will be the envy of all.”

Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, the officer-in-charge of the RCMP in B.C., chaired the selection committee, which also included Hepner and other city staff.

“We have identified a dedicated and forward-thinking police leader with a strong and diverse background,” Callens said. “He has the commitment and drive to establish lasting community relationships and ensure a collaborative approach is taken to keep this community safe.”

McDonald said Surrey has now deployed an additional 100 police officers over the last year, and almost 300 since 2014.

“It’s always simple to say that more boots on the ground will produce a higher level of public safety or more service,” he said. “But as we all know, the cost of policing is rising and we need to look at ways to more effectively and efficiently deploy our resources.”

kbolan@postmedia.com

blog: vancouversun.com/tag/real-scoop

twitter.com/kbolan