The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) commanding officer in British Columbia has been removed from his position due to undisclosed allegations spanning from 2016 to 2018, as per an official statement. Dwayne McDonald has been replaced by John Brewer, who previously led the extortion task force in BC.

In a statement attributed to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, details regarding the allegations were not disclosed at this time, but it was emphasized that RCMP operations and policing services in the province would not be impacted.

The statement indicated that the allegations are currently under investigation and were recently brought to the attention of the RCMP. McDonald, who previously served as the top police officer at the Surrey RCMP and held the position of RCMP’s criminal operations officer overseeing federal and organized crime investigations in British Columbia, has had his bio removed from the RCMP’s senior executive committee page.

John Brewer, now serving as the interim commanding officer of E Division and deputy commissioner, was previously an assistant commissioner with the RCMP. In the statement, Commissioner Duheme expressed full confidence in Brewer, describing him as a respected member of the RCMP’s senior leadership team.

McDonald, who has nearly three decades of law enforcement experience and previously worked at the Canada Border Services Agency, had also led the Lower Mainland’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. He was recognized with the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2015.

The BC RCMP, known as E Division, is the largest of the RCMP’s 15 divisions. Brewer’s appointment as the interim commanding officer and deputy commissioner was made with the approval of Commissioner Duheme.