A first woman commissioner in charge of restoring the reputation of the RCMP

PHOTO AGENCE QMI, JOEL LEMAY

Maxime Huard

Friday, 9 march, 2018 12:53

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Friday, 9 march, 2018 12:53

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OTTAWA – For the first time in history, a woman will take the helm of the royal Canadian mounted police (RCMP), an appointment which must mark a change of culture within the organization leaded for years by scandals of harassment.

The prime minister of Canada has confirmed the appointment of Brenda Lucki as commissioner on Friday.

“In the past few years, the RCMP has faced enormous challenges related to the harassment. We know that we have a lot of work to do and we are convinced that Brenda Lucki has everything it takes to allow us to move forward,” said Justin Trudeau at a press conference in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The RCMP had offered in October 2016 apology to women victims of harassment, discrimination and abuse in its ranks, in addition to set aside $ 100 million to settle two class actions by employees.

“I will not have all the answers, but I’m going to ask all the right questions, and even the difficult questions. I’m going to return all of the stones,” said the new commissioner after the announcement of his appointment, insisting several times on the need to modernize the RCMP.

The public Safety minister, Ralph Goodale, was recognized in the early point release that “the internal challenges related to the abuse of power, racism, and the encroachment on civil liberties have hurt the reputation of the RCMP.”

Surprisingly, the press conference was interrupted twice because of the fainting of an agent standing in the background.

Service

The announcement took place at the training centre to the division for Filing”, in which are trained all the cadets of the RCMP. Ms. Lucki is currently the commander of the division “Deposit”.

Working for the police force since 1986, she succeeds Bob Paulson, who retired last June after 39 years of service, including more than five years in this position.

The police officer from Edmonton, Alberta, among others, took part in two missions in the former Yugoslavia and has participated in a mission of training police officers in Haiti.

Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, including two medals of the protection Force of the united Nations medal and the canadian peacekeeping.

The new commissioner is also part of the Order of merit of the police forces for his work with First nations in northern Manitoba.

From December 2006 to June 2007, a woman, Beverley Busson, had already occupied the position of commissioner on an interim basis.