OTTAWA, December 9, 2011 - Today, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Bob Paulson announced the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Craig Callens to the position of Commanding Officer of the RCMP in British Columbia.
This decision comes after extensive consultation with the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Assistant Commissioner Callens has been the acting Commanding Officer for the past five months and has demonstrated his ability to fill this important leadership position.
After graduating from the University of Regina, Assistant Commissioner Callens joined the RCMP in 1985, following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps. From training at Depot, he was posted to a variety of communities in British Columbia's North, Southeast and Lower Mainland districts, as well as to E Division headquarters. He has been engaged primarily in duties related to major criminal investigations, homicide and crimes against persons, and he has held senior operational command positions at municipal, regional and provincial levels.
“With 26 years of frontline and administrative policing experience in British Columbia, I know that he has the confidence and support of the province’s policing and government partners, as well as the women and men of E Division,” said Commissioner Paulson. “I look forward to working with him on our Senior Management Team as we continue our work to ensure the RCMP remains one of the most progressive, effective and dynamic police services in the world.”
“Commanding Officer Callens brings with him a wealth of experience, much of it from serving in B.C. communities from the North to the Lower Mainland,” said British Columbia Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond. “Selecting him for this role has been a great opportunity to collaborate with the RCMP, and I look forward to working with him on B.C.’s policing priorities going forward.”
The Commanding Officer position in British Columbia holds the rank of Deputy Commissioner.
-30-
