The top RCMP official in British Columbia has been removed from his position due to unspecified allegations spanning from 2016 to 2018, as per a statement from the police organization. Dwayne McDonald has been replaced by John Brewer, who previously led the extortion task force in the province.
According to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, the force will not disclose further details about the allegations at this time but assured that there will be no disruption to RCMP operations in British Columbia. The statement indicated that the allegations are currently under investigation and were recently reported to the RCMP.
McDonald, who also served as the deputy commissioner of the RCMP, held key roles within the organization, such as leading the Surrey RCMP and overseeing federal and organized crime investigations in British Columbia. His bio has been removed from the RCMP’s senior executive committee webpage. Additionally, he received the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2015 for his contributions to law enforcement.
John Brewer, the newly appointed interim commanding officer of the RCMP in British Columbia and deputy commissioner, was previously an assistant commissioner within the RCMP. Commissioner Duheme expressed full confidence in Brewer, highlighting him as a respected member of the RCMP’s senior leadership team. Brewer takes over the leadership of E Division, which is the largest of the RCMP’s 15 divisions in Canada.