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January 17, 2003
RCMP ceremony welcomes
new leader
Outgoing chief actively
recruited Inuit, Premier says
RCMP V Divisions
new chief superintendent John Henderson.
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KIRSTEN
MURPHY
Nunavut said goodbye to
outgoing RCMP V Division chief superintendent Vern White and welcomed John Henderson
at an official transfer of command service at the legislature on Jan. 14.
Friends, family and dignitaries
packed into the chamber for the two-hour ceremony, which also recognized eight
new Inuit constables working throughout Nunavut.
"I want to thank chief
superintendent Vern White for his tireless support. Though hes only been
here since April 2001, Verns impact has been fundamental and we have accomplished
much through our partnership," said Premier Paul Okalik, who is also the
minister of justice.
"In addition to actively
recruiting Inuit, White was instrumental in supporting our efforts to open or
re-open detachments in order to increase the health and safety of our residents
and members of the RCMP. His dedication to our common goal is worthy of note."
Whites 20 years with
the RCMP has been spent in Labrador, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and
most recently Nunavut. He leaves V Division to work with the federal department
of the solicitor general in Ottawa.
Chief superintendent Henderson
takes over as commanding officer of V Division with 27 years of postings in
Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories. Most recently,
Henderson worked in Selkirk, Manitoba.
Dressed in red serge and
boots shinning from fresh polish, the new constables stood at attention and
received their official RCMP badges even though the new recruits have been working
as full-fledged officers for months.
"Inuit members have
a strong insight and understanding of the culture of the majority of Nunavut
residents. They possess the language to explain the legal process in a way that
has, for the most part, been lacking in the system," Okalik said.
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