Brenda Lucki has been named the RCMP’s new commissioner, the first woman to take on the top post permanently.
At a ceremony in Regina, at the RCMP’s training depot, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale announced Lucki’s new role, touting her as the leader the Mounties need as the national police force grapples with “internal challenges,” including alleged abuses of power and racial bias.
Brenda Lucki, commanding officer of Depot Division, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and cadet Stephanie Steiner, right, chat over breakfast in Regina on Jan. 26, 2017. (Michael Bell/Canadian Press)
“Lucki has made it her mission to serve the public. She’s known for being a hard worker, a dedicated officer and as someone who is constantly looking for ways to improve the status quo,” Trudeau said, adding Lucki is “absolutely the best person for the job who just happens to be a woman.”
The prime minister said Lucki will play a vital role in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, promoting gender equality, addressing workplace harassment and protecting the civil liberties of Canadians.
Lucki, a 32-year veteran of the force, has been serving as the commanding officer of the RCMP’s training academy in Saskatchewan, where she has focused on bolstering diversity in the ranks. She has served at divisions in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan and worked with United Nations in the former Yugoslavia and trained police units for the UN Civilian Police Mission in Haiti.
During the announcement, two RCMP officers standing behind the dais where the announcement was made fainted disrupting the proceedings. Trudeau said, after his speech, he would check on the members.
More to come