Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy is the new Commanding Officer of the Manitoba RCMP. With 34 years of experience in the RCMP, with postings in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including several detachments, Provincial Support Services, Serious and Organized Crime, District Operations Officer for Manitoba North District, Officer in Charge of Community and Indigenous Policing Services, and most recently as the Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations for Manitoba, Assistant Commissioner McMurchy brings a lot of knowledge and perspective to the position.
Assistant Commissioner McMurchy also brings something unique to the table – he was born in Rossburn, Manitoba and raised in The Pas. "As Manitoba is my home, I am deeply committed to serving Manitobans and am very honoured to be the Commanding Officer of the Manitoba RCMP," he said. "I am proud that much of my service has been in Manitoba. I believe that the opportunity for varied experience in this province exceeds almost anywhere else. I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people in the RCMP in Manitoba. The people who work here truly care, and go the extra mile to help the communities in which they live and serve."
As a Manitoban, Assistant Commissioner McMurchy knows where the focus needs to be. His number one priority is to address violent crime. "Policing in the RCMP really gives you the opportunity to know the people and truly help the community, and right now, people in communities across our province are concerned about high levels of violent crime. I am committed to working collaboratively to reduce the level of violent crime we are seeing currently and to engage the community in the process. Our goal is always the safety and security of Manitobans, and we want them to feel safe in their communities."
Never one to back down from a challenge, Assistant Commissioner McMurchy knows tackling violent crime and addressing rising property crime is a formidable task. He also knows that much of what we are seeing in criminal activity has links to the drug subculture. "Drugs are in every community in Manitoba, but when illicit drugs are present on a larger scale, the relation to the rise in other types of crime is quite clear." Working on drug enforcement and education is one way he plans to address the criminal activity within communities. Specialized teams, integrated units, and intelligence-led policing are other methods he is driving forward to address these concerns.
"It is very important to me to build relationships," said Assistant Commissioner McMurchy. "Building and maintaining connections with Indigenous leadership is something I have been working on for many years on a personal level as well as through my various roles in the RCMP. As part of the Manitoba RCMP's Reconciliation journey, I plan to continue wholeheartedly making those connections and listening to those perspectives."
Assistant Commissioner McMurchy knows relationships are important to the work the RCMP does. "We are your provincial police, and I want to hear from Manitobans about what is important in their community. We meet regularly with leadership from all communities through our Detachment Commanders. Make sure your local leaders know what you think is important, and we can work together with them to set priorities and focus our engagement."
The days, weeks, and months ahead will be very busy as Assistant Commissioner McMurchy moves forward in his new role, but he does hope to still find the time to do what he enjoys most – being outside in Manitoba. "If I'm in a boat on the water, I'm happy. I am lucky to live in Manitoba, and I promise all Manitobans that I will work hard every day, side-by-side with all the dedicated, talented employees of the RCMP, to keep you safe and happy in our beautiful province."