Manitoba RCMP holds Change of Command ceremony for new Commanding Officer

The Manitoba RCMP has a new commander. As Deputy Commissioner Rob Hill took over as commander in July 2022, officials, staff and honored guests from across the province and country recently welcomed him to a traditional RCMP change of command ceremony at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg.

The ceremony is an RCMP tradition that marks the symbolic handover of authority from the outgoing commander to the new leader of the armed forces in the province. Today’s ceremony included RCMP Pipes and Drums, a ceremonial troupe and a flag party. There was a parchment signing and transfer of the divisional flag from the outgoing Commander, Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy to the new Commander, Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki oversaw the ceremony.

“While we are saddened that Assistant Commissioner MacLatchy is leaving, she is leaving the Province of Manitoba in very good hands,” said RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. “Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill brings a wealth of experience to the role. His roots in Manitoba connect him closely with the people of this province. He is passionate about relationship building, employee well-being and reducing rural crime, and I know he will tackle these issues with the same enthusiasm he brings to anything related to public safety.”

“I am honored and excited to assume the role of Commander,” said Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill. “I am committed to continuing to learn from the lived experiences of diverse RCMP staff and the diverse communities we serve to ensure we are having the necessary discussions and moving in the right direction. We live and work in challenging times, but I am optimistic about our future. I think the more we work together as people, as communities, the better able we will be to find a way forward.”

The role of the division commander:

The title of commanding officer is specifically reserved for the regular member in charge of an RCMP division. The person’s rank does not necessarily reflect their status as commanding officer – the RCMP has commanding officers who are Deputy Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Chief Superintendents. The rank of commanding officer is determined by the person’s level of responsibility, the area covered by the division, and the number of personnel under their command.