Our Leadership Team

Chief Constable Dean Duthie, M.O.M, M.Ed

Chief Constable Dean Duthie was promoted as the 18^th Chief Constable of the Saanich Police Department on February 1, 2022.

Chief Duthie was raised in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia where he pursued his passion for team sports and completed a Diploma in Criminology at Douglas College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice at the University of the Fraser Valley.

Chief Duthie began his career with the Saanich Police Department in 1995 assigned as a frontline patrol constable for four years. Chief Duthie’s career then started to specialize in criminal investigative work as he completed tenures in the Street Crime Unit, Drug Section, and Major Crime Unit. After being promoted to sergeant in 2008, he completed assignments as a patrol supervisor, staff development (recruiting and training) sergeant – a position that stands out as a highlight in his career – and a four-year assignment on a major crime specialty team. During this stage of his career, Chief Duthie re-engaged with advanced education by completing a Master of Education – Leadership Studies, at the University of Victoria in 2015.

Chief Duthie was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in 2016 and served as a watch commander in the Patrol Division. This is still considered to be one of his most rewarding roles, as he felt a true sense of organizational contribution by identifying and supporting meaningful opportunities for officers to grow, continuously improve, and achieve goals they set for themselves. In 2018, he was promoted to the rank of Inspector and assigned as the Officer in Charge of the Professional Standards Division. After 18-months, the SPD reorganized the executive leadership team by increasing to two Deputy Chief Constables. Chief Duthie was selected to transition into an Acting Deputy Chief role in 2019, which was followed by his promotion to the Deputy Chief of Administration in 2020, where he led SPD’s emergency planning and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Duthie continued to seek meaningful opportunities to expand his executive leadership development, which led to him completing the Canadian Police College’s Executive Development in Policing program, and an Executive Masters in International Police Leadership from Charles Sturt University in Australia in 2023.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in many different committees in support of policing at local, regional, provincial, and national levels. He currently serves as a co-chair on the BC Association of Police Chiefs Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, and on the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Ethics Committee.

Chief Duthie received his Police Exemplary Service Medal in 2016, Province of British Columbia Commissioned Officer designation in 2019, and his appointment as a Member to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2024.

Chief Duthie is very grateful and feels blessed to serve the people in the beautiful, vibrant, and growing community of Saanich along with every officer, civilian staff member, and volunteer of the Saanich Police Department.

Deputy Chief Constable Darrell Underwood

Deputy Chief Darrell Underwood was born and raised on the lands of the SȾÁUTW̱ First Nation, located on the Saanich Peninsula, which he and his family continue to call home. A 25-year member of the Saanich Police Department, he currently serves as Deputy Chief of Administration, overseeing the Staff Development, Administration, and Professional Standards Divisions.

Deputy Underwood has served in five of the six divisions within the Saanich Police Department, affording him a comprehensive and informed perspective on police leadership. And while serving as a detective in both the Regional Crime Unit and the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, he developed a strong understanding of the value that integrated policing brings to the people of Saanich and the region at large.

As a constable in the Street Crime Unit, Deputy Underwood created exhibit management rules for the Saanich Police within Major Case Management. The quality of this work was recognized and shared provincially to allow other Police agencies to use them as a reference point.

Promoted to sergeant in 2015, Deputy Underwood led investigations in the Major Crime and Family Protection Units while assigned to the Detectives Division and served as a road supervisor while in the Patrol Division.

Upon promotion to Staff Sergeant, he was assigned to the Community Engagement Division where he built lasting relationships with the Greater Victoria Diversity Advisory Committee and led the creation of the department’s Community Safety Office. In 2022, he became the Inspector in charge of the Division and championed Indigenous recognition within the department, overseeing internal learning and the modernizing of the Saanich Police crest to incorporate Indigenous elements significant to the region.

A lifelong learner, Deputy Underwood completed the Executive Development Program at the Canadian Police College and earned his Executive Masters in International Police Leadership at Charles Sturt University in 2025.

Deputy Underwood’s exemplary service has been recognized with five Division Commander’s commendations, three Chief Constable’s Commendations (including one for lifesaving), the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Canadian Police Exemplary Service Medal, and the BC Valorous Service Medal.

Deputy Chief Constable Damian Kowalewich

Deputy Chief Constable Damian Kowalewich grew up in communities across British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, shaping his understanding of diverse cultures, perspectives, and communities. He brings extensive experience in frontline policing, specialized operations, investigations, and executive leadership to his role as Deputy Chief. Appointed on March 31, 2026, Deputy Chief Kowalewich oversees the Operations portfolio.

Deputy Chief Kowalewich began his policing career with the Saanich Police Department in 2005 and has served in a wide range of operational and leadership roles. His experience includes Patrol, Youth, Major Crime, Integrated Canine Services, Community Engagement, and tactical operations as a member of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team. These assignments shaped his understanding of operational risk, teamwork, and the realities officers face in demanding and highly scrutinized environments.

Deputy Kowalewich also served as the department’s Public Information Officer. That experience reinforced his understanding that public trust is built through both policing actions and clear communication, internally with members and externally with the public, media, and other stakeholders, particularly during incidents that generate community concern or scrutiny.

Deputy Kowalewich most recently served as Officer in Charge of the Professional Standards Division. In that role, he was responsible for Police Act investigations and Discipline Authority decision‑making, with a focus on consistent, fair, and clearly explained outcomes.

His leadership philosophy is grounded in responsibility for public trust and the real‑world impact of police decision‑making. That perspective was reinforced through his experience representing Canada at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Conference, which strengthened his belief that effective leadership requires humility, service, and a commitment to applying learning directly to policing practice and the communities officers serve.

Deputy Kowalewich’s leadership is supported by a strong academic foundation. He holds a Master of Arts in Professional Communication, along with certificates in Public Administration and Police Leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics. He is also an instructor in Evidence‑Based Policing through Dalhousie University.

His service to the community also includes municipal governance. He served nearly a decade as an elected Councillor for the Town of View Royal and has described that work as a privilege and a responsibility he approached with respect for the trust placed in public institutions—an approach he carries into policing leadership.

Deputy Chief Kowalewich is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community of Saanich and to work alongside the officers, civilian professionals, and volunteers of the Saanich Police Department.