Vancouverites probably won't notice much change as the baton was officially passed to new police chief Adam Palmer on Monday.

Palmer and Mayor Gregor Robertson, who also is head of the police board, indicated it will be stay-the-course on policies initiated by outgoing chief Jim Chu.

Palmer said that besides his dad, who died 21 years ago, Chu was one of the two most-influential officers who mentored him at the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

Citing falling crime rates in major categories — and bringing up the civic black eye that was the Stanley Cup riot and the subsequent hundreds of arrests — Palmer said Chu's legacy would be greater than the sum of those parts.

"When people look back they won't remember the crime rate," he said. "What people will remember is the way he treated people and his outreach to the community."

Chu said he felt pride and honour turning over the top-cop job to Palmer. "I also feel relief," Chu said.

It wouldn't have been pomp and ceremony without the Vancouver police pipe and drum corps. And about the only guests missing were the four-legged ones from the mounted unit.

Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon said she checked whether the outgoing chief was providing any clues in his attire as to his plans now.

"But no, same old, no runners, nothing new and exciting," she said.

In fact, Chu and his wife, Vicki, are being tight-lipped about their plans, but will begin their new life with a trip to New Zealand to visit their daughter, who is working there. The two met 32 years ago on the force and were married two years later.

"In recent talks with colleagues and employees, I've been asked what the best thing was about being chief for eight years and about being on the force for 36 years," Chu said. "It was meeting Vicki in 1982 and marrying her in 1984."

Palmer joined the VPD in 1987 and spent his first 13 years patrolling East Vancouver during "very challenging days back then." He and his wife, Connie, have two kids, a daughter and a son. The 28-year veteran becomes the 31st chief constable in the VPD's 129-year history.

"From the time I was a kid I always wanted to be a police officer," he said. "But I never dreamed of being chief of police. This is a very humbling experience."

Meanwhile, Chu has become the first municipal police officer in British Columbia to be issued a provincial commission.

The honour recognizes senior members of police departments for their rank, professionalism and dedication to policing, and takes after the military tradition of officer commissions.

- with files from the Canadian Press