The RCMP’s chief officer in British Columbia has been relieved of his duties in connection with unspecified allegations dating back to between 2016 and 2018.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald was removed from the position after the allegations were recently brought to the force’s attention, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said in a statement.
“We are treating this matter with the attention and diligence it requires,” Duheme said, noting that the investigation is ongoing. He said no further details would be provided at this time.
McDonald has served as the Mounties’ public face for high-profile cases in the province, conducting briefings concerning the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., that left eight victims dead in February, and addressing the media following the murder of Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang in 2022.
McDonald had more than three decades of law enforcement experience and was awarded the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2015.
He served as the top officer at the Surrey RCMP, and was in charge of federal and organized crime investigations as the RCMP’s criminal operations officer for the province, according to a 2024 biography. He also previously worked at the Canada Border Services Agency.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer speaks during a news conference in Surrey B.C., on Nov. 21, 2024. The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns
Duheme said the vacancy left by McDonald’s removal will be filled by assistant commissioner John Brewer.
“I recognize that changes of this nature may be concerning for our employees, partners, and the communities we serve,” Duheme added. “Commanding Officers play a critical role in the delivery of policing services, and it is important that we maintain continuity and stability in leadership.”
Duheme described Brewer as a respected member of the RCMP’s senior leadership team and he said the change in leadership will not impact RCMP operations in British Columbia.
Brewer made headlines earlier this year as head of the B.C. Extortion Task Force when he questioned whether a wave of shootings and extortion incidents targeting members of the South Asian community in the province constituted a “crisis” during a Jan. 20 press conference.
His comments prompted B.C. Premier David Eby to say the following day that Brewer needed to clarify his “puzzling” remarks or step aside as head of the task force.
Brewer subsequently apologized, saying he did not intend to cast doubt on the RCMP’s commitment to investigating extortion, which he described as one of the task force’s “highest priorities.”
