RCMP Appoints New Commanding Officer in Ontario

(Toronto, Ontario - Monday, May 9, 2011) – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has officially appointed a new Commanding Officer for its Ontario Division. Stephen White becomes the 35th Commanding Officer of “O” Division since 1920.  He will replace the former Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Mike McDonell, who retired from the RCMP in July 2010.
 
The official Change of Command ceremony, a time-honoured tradition of the RCMP, took place this afternoon at the Toronto Police College, before RCMP Commissioner William J.S. Elliott, as well as several colleagues, friends and family of Stephen White.
 
Assistant Commissioner White formerly held the position of Director General Financial Crime at the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa is proud to have been selected as the new Commanding Officer of the RCMP in Ontario. “It is a genuine pleasure for me to return here to “O” Division and assume the duties as your Commanding Officer. This day marks the official start of a new chapter in my career and I have been very honored by the warm welcome and support that I have received.”

RCMP Commissioner William J.S. Elliott, stated “we are fortunate to have such a leader in Assistant Commissioner Stephen White.  “He is known as an exemplary mountie and an operationally driven and visionary police professional.  He is strategic enough to recognize and communicate the big-picture context of our work, but meticulous enough to allow few details to escape him.  Moreover, Steve is an inspirational and people-oriented leader. Skilled at balancing the operational duties and responsibilities we must deliver with the needs and concerns of his people.”

A diversified career path 

Assistant Commissioner Stephen White joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1986 and has many years of investigational experience in federal policing and financial crime.  In 1999, Stephen White was selected to a five year assignment as the RCMP Liaison Officer in Venezuela.  In this position he was responsible for coordinating and facilitating law enforcement activity between Canada and 10 different countries throughout the southern Caribbean and South America.

In 2004, he became Director of Interpol Ottawa, responsible for the overall operation of the Interpol National Central Bureau in Canada.  In 2005 he was appointed Director of the RCMP’s International Operations Branch, responsible for overseeing the operation of the RCMP’s Liaison Offices located in 25 countries across North and South America, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Between January 2007 and May 2008, Stephen White was the Director of several of the RCMP’s Financial Crime Programs. As the Director of the Integrated Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Programs, he was responsible for leading the RCMP component of two Government of Canada initiatives, namely, the Integrated Proceeds of Crime Initiative and the National Initiative to Combat Money Laundering.  As the Director of the Integrated Market Enforcement Program, he was responsible for overseeing the RCMP’s activities related to capital markets criminal enforcement.

In May 2008, he was appointed Director General of Financial Crime for the RCMP.  In this capacity he was responsible for overseeing and providing national leadership to all of the RCMP’s Financial Crime Programs.  He was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 2009.

Originally from Newfoundland, Assistant Commissioner White is married and the father of one child.  He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
 
During his address to the Division, Assistant Commissioner White said “my responsibility will be to maintain a strong focus on operations in “O” Division.  My commitment will be to supporting our employees, to ensure they have the resources and wide range of tools they will need to achieve the high level of results expected of us.”  “I am ready for the next chapter in my future and the future of “O” Division as we all continue our very important role of serving Canada and all Canadians.”

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For information:
 
Sgt. Marc LaPorte
RCMP “O” Division
Media Relations Coordinator
Office: (519)640-7302
Cell: (416)992-4409