The RCMP in the Northwest Territories now has a new Commanding Officer.
The rank of Chief Superintendent is now the latest rank achieved by Dyson Smith, who has been in the field of policing for 24 years. He has previously served in detachments throughout Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Nunavut, and the NWT. His previous positions in the NWT include the Officer in Charge of North District, Officer in Charge of Yellowknife, Assistant Criminal Operations Officer, and most recently Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations.
In a statement, Smith said that he is honoured to have been selected for this new position.
“Policing in the North has been the most rewarding experience of my career. I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience first-hand, not only the majesty of our vast territory, but the privilege of meeting such honourable and caring people,”
Smith has spent almost half of their career in the North, and is greatly aware of the many issues that affect Northern communities. He notes the increase in drug related crime that has been seen across the North, and is committed to working with all communities and various levels of government to combat the issue.
This year, Smith will use his position as Chief Superintendent to roll out a new Territorial Crime Reduction Unit in collaboration with the GNWT. Coming from an Indigenous background, Smith sees reconciliation as a high priority, and also wants to improve the general public’s understanding of police operations.
