Brenda Lucki

Brenda Lucki 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.^[1][2] She is the first woman to permanently hold the position.^[3]

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]} 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]}

From 1993 to 1994, she served on the

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]}

Lucki was appointed RCMP Commissioner in 2018 by the government of Justin Trudeau, following the retirement of Commissioner Bob Paulson.^[4]

On February 15, 2023, Lucki announced her retirement as a personal decision, effective March 17.^[5] 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

In June 2020, Lucki was criticized for her explanation of systemic racism in the force, when she compared it to height.[10] 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.^[11]

Lucki later commented that she better understood the concept of systemic racism and how it might exist within the RCMP.^[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.^[13]

Alleged political interference in the Nova Scotia mass murder investigation

On June 21, 2022, the

Awards and decorations

Lucki's personal awards and decorations received during her policing career include the following:[15]

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Merit of the Police Forces	Appointed Commander (COM) on 16 April 2018[16] Appointed Member (MOM) on 11 January 2013[16]
	Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
	United Nations Medal	90 Days Service on Peacekeeping Mision in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars
	Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal	Decoration awarded in 2012[17] Canadian version
	Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal	2006 (20 Years), 2011 (25 Years), 2016 (30 Years), 2021 (35 Years)
	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

1. ^ "New RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki known for keeping her cool in tough times". Retrieved May 23, 2018.
2. ^ "Brenda Lucki appointed to lead Mounties amid calls to improve the culture | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
3. ^ Leblanc, Daniel (May 6, 2018). "New Commissioner Brenda Lucki looks to rank-and-file Mounties to help change the RCMP". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
4. ^ "RCMP Executive: Brenda Lucki". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
5. ^ Tunney, Catharine (February 15, 2023). "RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is stepping down". CBC News. Retrieved February 15, 2023. In a statement, Lucki said she had made a "personal decision" to leave the post.
6. ^ Benson, Stuart (May 11, 2022). "RCMP neither requested nor planned for Emergencies Act powers, commissioner tells MPs, Senators". Hill Times Publishing.
7. ^ "COMMITTEES DEDC Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
8. ^ Wherry, Aaron (March 6, 2022). "The committee reviewing Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act faces a daunting task". CBC.
9. ^ Boutilier, Alex (March 24, 2022). "Committee examining Liberals' emergency powers debates scope of inquiry". Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
10. ^ Gilmore, Rachel (June 24, 2020). "Asked about systemic racism in RCMP, Lucki discusses different heights of officers". ctvnews. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
11. ^ "RCMP head says she's 'struggling' with definition of systemic racism for force | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
12. ^ "RCMP head says she's 'struggling' with definition of systemic racism for force". Retrieved June 12, 2020.
13. ^ "RCMP commissioner breached duty with slow response to watchdog report, judge rules". ctvnews. The Canadian Press. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
14. ^ ^{a b} "RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki tried to 'jeopardize' mass murder investigation to advance Trudeau's gun control efforts". Halifax Examiner. June 21, 2022.
15. ^ Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (September 22, 2016). "RCMP executive | Royal Canadian Mounted Police". www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
16. ^ ^{a b} "Order of Merit of the Police Forces List". The Governor General of Canada.
17. ^ "The Diamond Jubilee Medal List". The Governor General of Canada.

Police appointments
Preceded by Dan Dubeau (acting)	Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 2018–2023	Succeeded by Michael Duheme