Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the new commanding officer for RCMP in BC was formally sworn in Tuesday afternoon in Langley, to the sound of pipes and drums in front of several hundred dignitaries and officers in red serge.

His appointment was announced earlier as effective July 1, taking over from Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan, who is retiring after 33 years with the force.

During a question and answer session with reporters following the ceremony, when McDonald was asked about the planned switch from the RCMP to a municipal force in Surrey, he said he thinks it will be a while before what he described as an B次元官网网址渋ncredibly complexB次元官网网址� changeover actually happens.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be in this for some time,B次元官网网址� predicted McDonald, who served a tour of duty as the chief superintendent in charge of the Surrey detachment.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking at years for the transition.B次元官网网址�

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RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki praised Strachan as an inspiration for female officers in the force, saying B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be here as commissioner if it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for you.B次元官网网址�

After signing the papers for the formal transfer of authority to McDonald, Strachan conducted her final inspection of the assembled officers standing at attention in the Langley Events Centre hall.

Strachan said her time in the force had been B次元官网网址渁bsolute pleasure,B次元官网网址� but had some parting words of advice for her fellow officers, warning them to avoid burnout.

B次元官网网址淵ou get caught up in the job and itB次元官网网址檚 all-consuming,B次元官网网址� Strachan observed.

She also advised against reading social media, with B次元官网网址渦neducatedB次元官网网址� opinions about police.

B次元官网网址淭urn off social media,B次元官网网址� Strachan said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not good for you.B次元官网网址�

In his remarks, McDonald sounded a similar note about what he termed an B次元官网网址渋nsidious narrativeB次元官网网址� that has taken hold in social media about police, and called on them to be proud of their calling.

B次元官网网址淢y red serge is a coat of honour,.B次元官网网址� McDonald commented, going on to say B次元官网网址渓et me encourage you to regain your swagger.B次元官网网址�

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McDonald has over 29 years of experience in law enforcement having served both the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP.

- Change of Command ceremony held for the British Columbia RCMP

B次元官网网址� BCRCMP (@BCRCMP)

Most recently, he served as the assistant commissioner and criminal operations officer for federal, investigative services and organized crime in B.C.

More pictures of the event can viewed on the .