RCMP Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Bill Smith

A/Commr. Smith was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia but started his policing career in Newfoundland and Labrador. He spent his first eight years of service between Grand Falls/Windsor, Happy Valley/ Goose Bay and Nain.

In March 2003, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent in charge of Criminal Operations for Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2008, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and transferred to Alberta where he was in charge of criminal operations for federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations policing services. He was responsible for 107 detachments with more 3000 members and employees.

In July 2009, Smith took over as the Commanding Officer of B Division, Newfoundland and Labrador. "To be able to return and lead the very division I began my career in is a unique opportunity", Smith says.

Smith joined the RCMP in 1979. In addition to his thirteen years of service in Newfoundland and Labrador, he has also served in Nova Scotia, RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa as well as Ottawa Division, the RCMP Training Academy in Regina, and New Brunswick. He received his commission in 1998 and returned to Ottawa as the Security Officer to His Excellency Governor General, Romeo LeBlanc. He later transferred to Fredericton, New Brunswick, where he was promoted to Superintendent in charge of Operational Support Services.

Assistant Commissioner Smith is bilingual and holds Certificates in General and Advanced Police Studies from the Canadian Police College, a Certificate in Criminology from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Bachelor of Arts (Major Sociology) from Saint Mary’s University.

In 2009, Assistant Commissioner Smith was appointed into the Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. He received his award at a ceremony at Rideau Hall from the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada.  Assistant Commissioner Smith is also the recipient of the RCMP Long Service Medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2011 was presented with the French National Defense Medal, gold echelon.