SURREY - Surrey police chief Fraser MacRae has announced that he is retiring from the police force after more than 35 years of service.

Since June 2004, MacRae has been the Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP, the largest detachment in the country, leading a team of 661 officers and over 250 support staff. In 2010, Fraser received a prestigious Order of Merit medal from the Governor General of Canada. This medal is given to a select number of officers nationwide to recognize exceptional service and commitment to Canada over an extended period of duty.

"Fraser has dedicated his life to policing and has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to our community. He is a leader in every sense of the word, and he will be greatly missed," says Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. "Fraser pioneered innovative solutions to crime reduction, has empowered the people around him, and has always been willing to collaborate and engage the community in a meaningful way in order to help reduce crime and increase safety in Surrey."

MacRae will assist in the selection process for the new Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP. His last day as Officer in Charge will be June 1.