rcmp superintendent

New RCMP superintendent lays out priorities

Oct 11, 2024 | 9:57 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Darin Rappel has been chosen as the new superintendent of the Prince George RCMP, replacing former superintendent Shaun Wright. In an interview with CKPG News, Rappel spoke about his new role and what his priorities are.

Rappel was previously officer in charge of Plain Clothes Services for the Prince George RCMP, a position he held since early 2017.

His first post in his 23-year-career with the RCMP was in Williams Lake. He then moved to Kamloops where he worked in Serious Crime, Property Crime and in the Professional Responsibility Unit.

Now that he taken on the top job at the detachment, Superintendent Rappel says that the roadmap before him, is clear.

“We are certainly still dealing with the issues of the opioid crisis and the problems in the downtown core. The Lower Patricia Encampment, remains to be dealt with, but the city is making fantastic progress with BC Housing and finding home for these individuals. So, it’s still on our radar and it is an area that requires additional policing effort.” Superintendent Darin Rappel, Prince George RCMP

Rappel acknowledged that his role has changed, but there is one goal that has not. Public Safety. He says that he now has a wider scope of the issues in Prince George, as superintendent, but that public safety remains his top priority.

Tackling the influence of gangs is another priority for Rappel. He notes that back in 2016-17, gangs were considered a Lower Mainland problem. Now it’s regarded as more of a provincial issue. Rappel said that the reach of gangs extends to Prince George, and that has changed how “we look at policing and where we deploy our resources and some of the strategies that we undertake to go after these groups.”

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

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