Transfer of Inspector to Alberta, opens top spot at Prince Rupert RCMP Detachment

There is a temporary commander in place for the
Prince Rupert RCMP detachment

There's a new, if temporary for now name signing off on some of the recent information advisories from the Prince Rupert RCMP, with Sergeant Todd Wilson taking on the duties of Acting Detachment Commander of the Sixth Avenue West detachment.

The position opened up after a fall transfer for former Inspector in Charge Blake Ward, who now is working in Northwestern Alberta, in the Peace Country area serving around the Grande Prairie area.

The Inspector is already gaining recognition as part of the Alberta policing program in the Northwest corner of that province.

Inspector Ward joined the Prince Rupert detachment as OIC in 2016, that after serving in a similar capacity in 100 Mile House, though he was not a newcomer to the Northwest having previously served as part of the Prince Rupert based North Coast Marine Unit.

In 2017, the Inspector spoke to some of the successes and challenges of policing in Prince Rupert, noting of the reduced numbers from a full complement of 36 members, as well as  the many social issues that at times dominate much of policing in the community.

The Social issues have only increased for members since that 2017 update and as we noted earlier this month in our review of the Crime Severity Statistics for the Prince Rupert detachment; the uptick in criminal matters keeps the local detachment busy shift after shift after shift.

As seems to be the case for many positions in Prince Rupert whether they are with the RCMP, or in civic administration, the Inspectors departure seems to have taken place without an official farewell from civic officials. 

Wth no thank you for your service notes from the Mayor and City Council; nor an indication as to the path forward for policing in the community.

Something that perhaps the City Council members may wish to speak towards when they resume their duties at City Hall in January of 2021.

Key to that discussion will be if Sergeant Wilson will be able to remove the temporary designation; or if the City of Prince Rupert will begin 2021 awaiting a list of potential senior members from the RCMP to take on the local detachment duties as Commander.

For more notes related to Emergency Responders in the Northwest see our archive page here.