Chief Superintendent McDonald grew up in the Lower Mainland and joined the RCMP in 1995 where he began his policing career with the Burnaby RCMP. While at the Burnaby Detachment he rose through the ranks of Constable, to Sergeant as he worked in General Duty, Community Special Projects, Strike Force, the Emergency Response Team and Major Crime.

SURREY – Chief Superintendent Dwayne McDonald has been selected as the new Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP detachment.

McDonald told the media he will focus on education to help combat gang violence in the city.

"Prevention and education initiatives are much more effective and much cheaper than law enforcement when things go wrong," said Chief Supt. Dwayne McDonald.

McDonald said Surrey is well-suited to an education-based campaign because of its large youth population.

"Typically when we talk about gang involvement and when we talk about shots fired, it usually involves a younger population, and it usually involves the drug trade," he explained.

"Those types of criminals prey on our young people, and they also try and seduce them into that lifestyle with the illusion of riches."

McDonald's appointment was officially announced Tuesday, Oct. 4 after a selection and interview process led by Mayor Linda Hepner and Commanding Officer of the RCMP in BC (“E” Division), Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens. With the support of the RCMP Commissioner, their recommendation was ratified by Surrey City Council on Monday afternoon.

“C/Supt. McDonald will carry on the tradition of exemplary leaders we have been fortunate to have at Surrey detachment,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “As we move forward with our public safety strategy, Dwayne’s high level experience combined with his progressive and community first approach to policing will make a real difference in the lives of Surrey residents.”

During his 21 years of service in the RCMP, C/Supt. McDonald has spent time in the Lower Mainland and has gained a broad base of policing experience at both the local level and at the operational level. His policing career started at Burnaby RCMP and has included turns as a senior investigator at the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), and most recently as the Office in Charge of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

“Surrey is a dynamic and growing city that will benefit from C/Supt. McDonald’s extensive experience in policing and his collaborative leadership style,” says D/Commr. Craig Callens. “I am impressed by his accomplishments as well as the commitment to public safety that he has demonstrated throughout his career.”

C/Supt. McDonald is now the new Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP, the largest RCMP detachment in Canada and the second largest municipal police force in British Columbia.  A transition plan is in place that will have him taking on the additional responsibilities over the next few weeks.

“C/Supt. McDonald is an excellent choice to lead Surrey RCMP,” says Assistant Commissioner Bill Fordy, Lower Mainland District Commander and outgoing Surrey RCMP Officer in Charge. “I have a great deal of respect for him as both a police officer and a person, and I know Surrey Detachment is in great hands.”

Chief Superintendent McDonald grew up in the Lower Mainland and joined the RCMP in 1995 where he began his policing career with the Burnaby RCMP. While at the Burnaby Detachment he rose through the ranks of Constable, to Sergeant as he worked in General Duty, Community Special Projects, Strike Force, the Emergency Response Team and Major Crime.

After 12 years in municipal policing, Chief Superintendent McDonald transferred to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team where he served as a Sergeant Team Leader and was later promoted to the position of Staff Sergeant, Team Commander.  During his four years with IHIT (2007-2011) he had responsibility for multiple investigative teams and managed over 50 homicide investigations throughout the Lower Mainland. 

In 2011 he transferred to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) where he assumed to role of Team Commander for project E-Nitrogen, the investigation into the gangland slaying of Jonathan Bacon. In 2012 he received his Commission to the rank of Inspector as an Operations Officer/Senior Investigator at CFSEU-BC.  In addition to being an advocate for the End Gang Life campaign, he also worked with key stakeholders to target, disrupt and prosecute individuals or groups that pose the highest risk to public safety due to involvement in gang violence.

In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and returned to IHIT as the Officer in Charge (OIC).  As the OIC he led the largest homicide unit in Canada with 110 police officers, civilian members, and public service employees.

Chief Superintendent McDonald has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, is an Accredited Team Commander and has completed extensive training in the areas of Critical Incident Command Systems and Major Case Management. He currently sits on the Major Case Management Committee and the Integrated Kidnapping Operational Response working group. In 2015 Superintendent McDonald was invested as a member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

He coaches youth hockey and lives in New Westminster with his wife and three children.