The new RCMP Chief Superintendent for the western district is John Ferguson. He has been promoted to the new position just under a year after taking on the Superintendent role with the Grande Prairie RCMP. Ferguson will now watch over the area from Drayton Valley to the British Columbia border which also includes Jasper.
Although he is excited about the new opportunity, this wasn’t always one of his goals.
“When I joined this organization, I thought if I could retire as a sergeant, I’d be very happy. Unlike most people, we tell them to have a career goal and direction, I never really have. I kinda have gone with the moment. When opportunities present themselves and it was something that interests me, I would try and pursue it.”
Ferguson says his focus will still be on the safety in the community and although crime has statistically been reduced since his arrival, he doesn’t take credit for that.
“We feel excited about what is going on here and we do believe we are going in the direction. We recognize that there is lots that needs to be done here.”
Donnan McKenna will step into the role as Superintendent for the Grande Prairie RCMP. The new Chief Superintendent says there isn’t much advice he can supply for McKenna because they have been working alongside each other for many years.
“You shouldn’t see any change here. Because the ideas and things we have been doing here in Grande Prairie, Don has been as much as part of those ideas and moving in the direction that we have, as I have been.”
McKenna moves to his new role from his role as Operations Officer for just over two years.