Staff Sergeant Chris Smiley, the new Detachment Commander for Ponoka RCMP.

By rdnewsNOW staff

New Leadership

New detachment commander announced for Ponoka RCMP

Oct 25, 2019 | 2:42 PM

A new leader has been announced for the Ponoka RCMP detachment.

Chief Superintendent Shahin Mehdizadeh, District Commander for Central Alberta District, has announced Staff Sergeant Chris Smiley as the new Detachment Commander of Ponoka RCMP.

Officials say Staff Sergeant Smiley has 15 years of service and is originally from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia – beginning his career at “K” Division at Vermilion Detachment.

Smiley is said to have started with general duty, followed by a few years with Traffic Services while in Vermilion.

He later transferred to the Blackfalds Detachment in 2010 and was promoted to Corporal watch commander at the Rocky Mountain House Detachment in 2015.

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Smiley was promoted to Sergeant at the Ponoka Detachment in February 2017 as the Operations NCO. Later that year, he assumed the role of Acting Detachment Commander of the Ponoka Detachment and has maintained that role up until this new promotion.

Along with his day to day duties, Smiley is also a police and public safety and Taser instructor, facilitating training around the district throughout the year.

Officials say Staff Sergeant Smiley will focus on crime reduction, traffic safety and continued efforts to promote and develop strong ties between the RCMP and the community at large.

He will also be engaged in the needs and expectations of the detachment and the Town of Ponoka and Lacombe County.