Prince George's new RCMP commanding officer has been named. Insp. Eric Stubbs was named moments ago as the replacement for outgoing Supt. Brenda Butterworth-Carr who has been promoted to a senior leadership post in Ottawa.
Stubbs, who will be receiving a promotion to Supt. as well as command of the larger detachment, has been the officer overseeing the RCMP's station in Terrace.
Prior to Terrace, Stubbs's career path has included recent stints in Queen Charlotte City and Mackenzie (promotions in both cases) in the North District region, plus time served in the southern half of the province as well.
He was detachment commander at Cheen Charlotte City from 2003 to '05, then was put in charge of operations at Terrace from '05 until he was promoted again to detachment commander, a post he has held there for the past three years. Now he assumes the leadership of one of B.C.'s biggest RCMP posts.
"I would like to thank the [City of Prince George] for this tremendous opportunity and I'm very excited to take on the role of superintendent," said Stubbs. "I am extremely eager to begin my new duties and start working with the outstanding individuals already in place at the Prince George detachment. Finally, I would like to recognize the past work of Supt. Butterworth-Carr and I wish her the best in her future role."
Butterworth-Carr is being promoted to the rank of chief superintendent in charge of the RCMP's National Aboriginal Police Services. The dates for the departure of superintendent Butterworth-Carr and the arrival of Inspector Stubbs have not been finalized.
"On behalf of council, I am pleased to welcome Eric into our community and am confident that his leadership, dedication, and passion will be extremely valuable to our local detachment," said Mayor Dan Rogers.
Stubbs knows P.G.
B.C.'s northern capital is no strange land for incoming RCMP commander Insp. Eric Stubbs. He began his northern policing career 11 years ago with a posting to nearby Mackenzie, and he hasn't left the North District region since then.
"I've been in and out of Prince George for work and for personal a number of times," he told The Citizen on Wednesday.
He is well aware of the structural regime underway at the Prince George detachment, set up and overseen by outgoing commander Supt. Brenda Butterworth-Carr. He said he admired the choices made and directions taken.
"Coming into Prince George is obviously a challenge. I am aware of the path that Supt. Butterworth-Carr has led the detachment on. We need to continue to focus on safety in the downtown core, the prolific offender program is working well there, there clearly has to be a big focus on gang activity and that is in co-operation with a large number of other police agencies and partner groups."
Stubbs said one of his personal policing passions is co-operative efforts with area First Nations. He has policed nine Aboriginal communities in his career and takes particular pride in developing working relationships. The Prince George Native Friendship Centre is already high on his list of early visitations, and he said he has a number of other community agencies of all kinds he hopes to make contact with soon after his arrival.
