Brenda Lucki
{{Short description|24th Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Brenda Lucki
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|COM|size=100%}}
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| order = 24th
| office = Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
| term_start = April 16, 2018
| term_end = March 17, 2023
| minister = {{plainlist|
}}
| predecessor = Dan Dubeau (acting)
| successor = Michael Duheme
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1966}}{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Canadian
| party =
| spouse =
| relations =
| children = 2 (step children)
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Alberta (BA)
| occupation = Police officer
| signature =
| website =
}}
Brenda Lucki {{post-nominals|country=CAN|COM}} is a Canadian retired police officer who served as the 24th commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from April 2018 to March 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-new-rcmp-commissioner-brenda-lucki-known-for-keeping-her-cool-in-tough/|title=New RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki known for keeping her cool in tough times|access-date=2018-05-23}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/brenda-lucki-rcmp-commissioner-1.4569430|title=Brenda Lucki appointed to lead Mounties amid calls to improve the culture {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-CA}} She is the first woman to permanently hold the position.{{Cite news|last=Leblanc|first=Daniel|date=2018-05-06|title=New Commissioner Brenda Lucki looks to rank-and-file Mounties to help change the RCMP|language=en-CA|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-new-commissioner-brenda-lucki-looks-to-rank-and-file-mounties-to-help/|access-date=2022-01-30}}
By virtue of her role, Lucki was the ex-officio Principal Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.
Early life and education
Lucki was born in 1966{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. She graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Police career
In 1986, she joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Throughout her career, she has served in numerous provinces in Canada, to include: Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
From 1993 to 1994, she served on the United Nations Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Lucki's other appointments and postings included the RCMP's peacekeeping program in Ottawa in 1995, and she was appointed to Commandant of the RCMP Academy, Depot Division in 2017.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Lucki was appointed RCMP Commissioner in 2018 by the government of Justin Trudeau, following the retirement of Commissioner Bob Paulson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/rcmp-executive#lucki |title=RCMP Executive: Brenda Lucki |publisher=Royal Canadian Mounted Police |access-date=July 25, 2022}}
On February 15, 2023, Lucki announced her retirement as a personal decision, effective March 17.{{cite web |last1=Tunney |first1=Catharine |title=RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is stepping down |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lucki-retirement-1.6749628 |website=CBC News |access-date=15 February 2023 |date=15 February 2023 |quote=In a statement, Lucki said she had made a "personal decision" to leave the post.}} On March 17, it was accounted that Michael Duheme would serve as interim commissioner until the appointment of a permanent successor.
= 2022 invocation of Emergencies Act =
On May 11, 2022, Lucki stated under oath to the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency (DECD) that "while her agency was consulted, it never requested nor recommended the [Emergencies Act]'s use."{{cite news |last1=Benson |first1=Stuart |title=RCMP neither requested nor planned for Emergencies Act powers, commissioner tells MPs, Senators |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/2022/05/11/rcmp-neither-requested-nor-planned-for-emergencies-act-powers-commissioner-tells-mps-senators/361423 |publisher=Hill Times Publishing |date=11 May 2022}} The Senate and the House of Commons agreed to strike this committee to investigate the events associated with invocation of the Emergencies Act in the wake of the 2022 Freedom Convoy to Parliament Hill.{{cite news |title=COMMITTEES DEDC Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency |url=https://www.parl.ca/Committees/en/DEDC |access-date=May 22, 2022 |publisher=Parliament of Canada}}{{cite news |last1=Wherry |first1=Aaron |title=The committee reviewing Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act faces a daunting task |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/emergencies-act-trudeau-vaccine-protest-convoy-ottawa-1.6373636 |publisher=CBC |date=March 6, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Boutilier |first1=Alex |title=Committee examining Liberals' emergency powers debates scope of inquiry |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8707822/committee-emergency-powers-debates-scope-of-inquiry/ |publisher=Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc |date=March 24, 2022}}
Criticism
Lucki has been subject to a number of criticisms in her role as police commissioner.
= Systemic racism in policing =
In June 2020, Lucki was criticized for her explanation of systemic racism in the force, when she compared it to height.{{Cite web|last=Gilmore|first=Rachel|title=Asked about systemic racism in RCMP, Lucki discusses different heights of officers|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/asked-about-systemic-racism-in-rcmp-lucki-discusses-different-heights-of-officers-1.4998165|access-date=2022-01-30|website=ctvnews|date=June 24, 2020 |language=en}} She later admitted she “struggled” with the concept of systemic racism, and dismissed allegations of the RCMP holding racial biases different from any other organization.{{Cite web|title=RCMP head says she's 'struggling' with definition of systemic racism for force {{!}} Globalnews.ca|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7049595/brenda-lucki-rcmp-systemic-racism/|access-date=2022-01-30|website=globalnews.ca|language=en-US}}
Lucki later commented that she better understood the concept of systemic racism and how it might exist within the RCMP.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7049595/brenda-lucki-rcmp-systemic-racism/|title=RCMP head says she's 'struggling' with definition of systemic racism for force|access-date=2020-06-12}}
= Spying on climate activists =
In January 2022, a Canadian federal court ruled Lucki breached duty by failing to respond to a watchdog report on the alleged spying on anti-oil protestors.{{Cite web|agency=The Canadian Press|title=RCMP commissioner breached duty with slow response to watchdog report, judge rules|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/rcmp-commissioner-breached-duty-with-slow-response-to-watchdog-report-judge-rules-1.5735938|access-date=2022-01-30|website=ctvnews|date=January 11, 2022 |language=en}}
= Alleged political interference in the Nova Scotia mass murder investigation =
On June 21, 2022, the Halifax Examiner published an article alleging that—at the onset of the 2020 Nova Scotia mass murder investigation—Lucki promised Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and the Prime Minister’s Office to leverage the murders to get a gun control law passed.{{cite web |title=RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki tried to 'jeopardize' mass murder investigation to advance Trudeau's gun control efforts |url=https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/rcmp-commissioner-brenda-lucki-tried-to-jeopardize-mass-murder-investigation-to-advance-trudeaus-gun-control-efforts/ |website=Halifax Examiner |date=June 21, 2022 |language=en-CA}} The article alleges that Lucki pressured the RCMP to release details of the murder weapons despite the insistence of RCMP commanders that releasing this information might jeopardize the investigation.
Awards and decorations
Lucki's personal awards and decorations received during her policing career include the following:{{Cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Royal Canadian Mounted Police|date=2016-09-22|title=RCMP executive {{!}} Royal Canadian Mounted Police|url=https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/rcmp-executive|access-date=2020-12-31|website=www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca}}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| style="background:#FF2400;color:Black" align="center"
|Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| 80px | Order of Merit of the Police Forces | *Appointed Commander (COM) on 16 April 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/154-3493 |title=Order of Merit of the Police Forces List|publisher=The Governor General of Canada}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|ribbon=CPSM_Ribbon.png|width=80}} | Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
| 80px | United Nations Medal | * 90 Days Service on Peacekeeping Mision in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
during the Yugoslav Wars |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|ribbon=QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} | Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal | *Decoration awarded in 2012{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/126-213900 |title=The Diamond Jubilee Medal List|publisher=The Governor General of Canada}}
|
| 80px | Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal | 2006 (20 Years), 2011 (25 Years), 2016 (30 Years), 2021 (35 Years) |
| 80px | Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan | *27 May 2005 |
| Pin
|Commander's Commendation | *2003 | |
| None
|Order of St John's Certificate | *1994 | |
| Pin
|UN Force Commander's Commendation | *1993 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-civ|pol}}
{{s-bef
| before = Dan Dubeau (acting)
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
| years = 2018–2023
}}
{{s-aft
| after = Michael Duheme
}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucki, Brenda}}
Category:Royal Canadian Mounted Police commissioners
Category:University of Alberta alumni
Category:Canadian women police officers
Category:Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces