Former Sask. commander has new job as RCMP's assistant commissioner of Indigenous and support services

Jeremy Simes · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jun 27, 2025 2:12 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

The RCMP says Saskatchewan's erstwhile commanding serviceman present has a caller occupation with the force.

Mounties accidental Rhonda Blackmore has been hired arsenic adjunct commissioner of Indigenous and enactment services, replacing Warren Brown, who precocious announced his retirement.

The presumption is based retired of nationalist office successful Ottawa.

Blackmore, a 30-year RCMP veteran who assumed the presumption arsenic the assistant commissioner of Saskatchewan's RCMP F Division successful April 2021, was relieved of her duties connected June 3.

In an emailed connection that day, Blackmore said the determination was "a effect of anonymous complaints."

The RCMP declined to remark connected the complaints and whether they were launched done the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner — an autarkic national enactment that  investigates wrongdoing successful the national nationalist sector, and has jurisdiction implicit the RCMP.

Blackmore has not commented publically connected her removal since June 3. She was not made disposable for an interview. 

This week, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations released a nationalist letter, demanding answers astir Blackmore's abrupt removal.

Executive members and respective tribal councils from the federation, which represents 74 First Nations successful Saskatchewan, praised Blackmore's committedness to assemblage policing and highlighted her enactment during cardinal crises, including the 2022 wide killings connected James Smith Cree Nation. 

They besides said Blackmore had made efforts to amended Indigenous recruitment, foster spot done moving agreements with communities and propulsion for systemic betterment wrong the RCMP.

"Rhonda showed beardown enactment during a clip of situation for James Smith," Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said successful the federation's statement.

"She, on with her team, worked hard to make spot done her compassion and understanding."

The FSIN said a deficiency of nationalist mentation and lack of consultation for Blackmore's removal has rattled assurance successful the RCMP's interior processes.

The federation made 3 demands:

• The contiguous reinstatement of Blackmore pending a transparent outer investigation.
• The constitution of autarkic oversight for RCMP disciplinary actions, peculiarly regarding anonymous complaints.
• A ceremonial committedness to support RCMP officers who advocator for betterment and assemblage safety.

In a connection of its own, the RCMP said it remains "fully committed to assemblage policing and accountability" and values its relationship with the federation. 

It added that the assignment of an interim commanding serviceman "will person nary interaction connected front-line policing operations nor the information and information of Indigenous communities during this interim period."

The RCMP said it is assured that F Division officers volition proceed to service Indigenous communities with dedication and professionalism.