The new commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland and Labrador is a former Corner Brook resident.
Assistant Commissioner Ches W. Parsons, who hails from the Curling area of the west coast city, began his new duties as the province’s 19th commanding officer Oct. 9.
A graduate of Herdman Collegiate in Corner Brook, Parsons received a bachelor of commerce degree from Memorial University before attending the RCMP Academy in Regina, Sask.
His subsequent 31-year career with the RCMP has led Parsons to work in Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Ontario, as well as internationally on deployments into Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.
He has worked extensively with diverse populations, serving Canadians in a variety of capacities. He worked for many years with First Nations and Métis communities in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
Parsons’ operational policing roles have included serious and organized crime, national security and emergency response.
He worked in the field of national security for the past 17 years, most recently as the director general of Federal Policing National Security.
Parsons is a life-long volunteer. He has been active in community service in all his postings and he is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
In a prepared statement issued by the RCMP Friday, Parsons said he is proud the high-water mark of his distinguished career is this appointment to lead the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“My number one priority is to ensure the RCMP continues to provide quality policing services to the residents and communities of our province,” he stated in the press release. “What is clearly evident to me as I settle in is that our police officers and employees share that priority, and we have world-class policing expertise right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s good to be home.”
