Red Deer’s former top cop is returning to Alberta after working in the nation’s capital for seven months. Brian Simpson will join the Edmonton Police Service as the new deputy chief of the community policing bureau on May 1.
Simpson was in charge of Red Deer’s RCMP police detachment from 2006 to 2011. While in Red Deer, he was one of eight senior officers in Canada to receive the Order of Merit of the Police Forces from Gov. Gen. David Johnston last year.
In September 2011, Simpson transferred to the RCMP national headquarters to work as the director general of Operational Response and Readiness. He was elevated to chief superintendent. He dealt with critical incident programs including emergency response teams, public order teams and hostage negotiation teams.
“It was a great opportunity and something I enjoy doing,” said Simpson, from his Ottawa office.
Simpson said his experience was very positive in Ottawa but the opportunity presented itself in Edmonton.
“Another challenge, another opportunity,” said Simpson. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Supt. Warren Dosko, previously of the St. Albert RCMP detachment, replaced Simpson in Red Deer in November.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com