Supt. Rod Booth will be taking the reins of RCMP's North District.
On Wednesday RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson announced Booth's appointment to commander of North District RCMP and promotion to the rank of chief superintendent. North District encompasses the northern 73 per cent of the province.
"I am extremely proud of all the men and women in the North District and all the work they do every day," Booth said in a written statement. "My first priority is to continue the ongoing work of rebuilding public confidence in the RCMP, but more importantly, in rebuilding the confidence of employees in themselves. Our focus has to be on people."
North District includes 37 urban and rural detachments, including the Prince George city detachment, with a total of 1,100 employees. Booth fills the position left by the retirement of former Chief Supt. Barry Clark in August, 2010.
Booth has been a member of the RCMP since 1981. His career has taken him to the Lower Mainland, Yukon and Gulf Islands as a general duty officer, emergency response team member and major crimes investigator.
In 2004 he transferred to Ottawa where he served as the officer in charge of the operational policy section of the RCMP. In 2006 he was appointed executive officer to the RCMP commissioner.
He was seconded to the prime minister's Privy Council Office to work on preparations the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Following the Olympics, Booth was appointed assistant district officer for B.C.
Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, commanding officer of the RCMP in B.C., welcomed Booth's appointment.
"I could not be more pleased with Rod's appointment as the North District commander," Callens said in a written statement. "It is a testament to his leadership, professionalism and personal commitment to serve British Columbians. I look forward to Rod's continued contribution to community safety in our province."
Prince George RCMP commander Supt. Eric Stubbs said he looks forward to working with Booth again.
"I have worked with Supt. Booth for the past few years and believe he's an excellent choice to be our district officer," Stubbs said. "He has an ability to see the big picture and understands the challenges of policing in the North. Most importantly, he genuinely cares about the members and employees that are working hard every day in the detachments throughout the North."
Booth will be based at North District RCMP headquarters in Prince George.
