B.C. RCMP commanding officer relieved of duties amid allegations

B.C. RCMP commanding officer Dwayne McDonald has been relieved of his duties after allegations dating from 2016 to 2018 were brought to the RCMP’s attention, the federal force announced Aug. 13.

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said investigations are underway and the force would not release further details. Federal RCMP media relations also declined to say whether McDonald had been suspended, with or without pay, or how the allegations came to light.

McDonald had led the B.C. RCMP since 2021. During the period covered by the allegations, he was officer-in-charge of Surrey RCMP, serving from 2016 to 2019. He later worked from the B.C. RCMP’s E Division headquarters in Surrey in senior criminal-operations roles.

John Brewer has been appointed interim deputy commissioner and commanding officer. Duheme said Brewer has the confidence of the RCMP’s senior executive committee and is familiar with policing priorities in British Columbia.

Premier David Eby said he did not know the particulars of the allegations but expects the matter to be properly investigated. He said the public ultimately deserves to know why the province’s top RCMP officer was removed, while stressing that the process must be handled properly for both complainants and McDonald.