Michael Duheme will serve as Acting Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to fill the position left vacant by the departure of Brenda Lucki.
Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement Friday in a press release.
Mr. Duheme, who is deputy commissioner of the federal police, will begin his new term on March 18.
Mr. Duheme is originally from Chambly, Quebec. He worked in four provinces for the RCMP, including Nova Scotia, where he began his more than 30 years of service.
He also participated in a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and was a member of the RCMP’s Intervention Tactical Group.
“Deputy Commissioner Duheme will serve as Acting Commissioner until a permanent Commissioner is appointed. The government will now take the necessary steps to identify an exceptional new leader who will keep our communities safe, while advancing the reforms necessary to maintain the confidence of all Canadians,” reads the report. Friday’s announcement release.
Last month, Ms Lucki announced she would retire in March.
Rumors about Ms Lucki’s future as head of the national police force were already swirling as she neared the end of her five-year term, which was marked by many challenges and controversies.
She notably had to lead the RCMP during the worst mass shooting in modern Canadian history, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Freedom Convoy protests.
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