The Oceanside RCMP detachment will get its long-awaited new commander early next month, and he'll bring previous law-enforcement experience working on the mid-Island, the RCMP announced.
Marc Pelletier, currently watch commander with the Prince George RCMP, is scheduled to arrive to take over the staff sergeant position early in September, said Jesse Foreman, spokesperson for the Oceanside RCMP.
Pelletier, a 24-year veteran, replaces former Oceanside RCMP staff sergeant Brian Hunter, who was promoted to inspector and reassigned to head the Port Alberni detachment beginning July 4.
"He has a vast amount of operational experience," Foreman said of Pelletier. "He was the Major Crimes Team leader as a sergeant in Nanaimo, so he has a lot of experience on the Island. We're excited to have him on board."
The Oceanside detachment will also fill a vacancy for its operational NCO position. Sgt. Stephen Rose, who is currently detachment commander with the Houston RCMP, is also expected to arrive in early September, Foreman said.
"Again, he is someone with lots of experience," Foreman said of Rose.
Sgt. Roger Plamondon has served as interim detachment commander for Oceanside since Hunter's departure to Port Alberni in early July, Foreman said.
Hunter's new posting was actually announced in April. At the time, he said the decision on a new Oceanside commander was in the hands of the Island District management team in Victoria, and that actually moving officers could be a time-consuming process.
"It could be a while," Hunter said in May. "I'm going through the process with relocation services and in the next couple of weeks we'll have our house up for sale. And our move will be contingent on a (home) possession date at the other end."