NEW TOP COP: Second in command promoted to lead Kamloops RCMP

Kamloops RCMP chose from within the ranks to replace its outgoing superintendent.

Jeff Pelley will take on the role of Officer in Charge for the detachment after he was hired as Inspector in April 2021, according to a City of Kamloops news release.

“I look forward to building on the current successes of all the women and men and to making our community safer, as it is an amazing place to work and live," Pelley said in the release.

Supt. Syd Lecky is soon heading to Yellowknife to lead the Northwest Territories G Division operations. The move was announced in August, and the City said it would be interviewing for the position in the coming weeks.

Lecky led Kamloops RCMP for more than four years.

“Inspector Pelley will build upon the legacy of Superintendent Lecky with a strong focus on evidence and community-based policing,” Mayor Ken Christian said in the release. “Jeff has extensive general duty experience, strong leadership skills, and a capacity to triage serious incidents. From gangs and drugs to domestic and mental health concerns, Jeff will lead from the front and is committed to calming the streets and making Kamloops a safer city.”

Pelley will serve as Officer in Charge before he's formally promoted to superintendent in the "next few weeks," according to the release.

"Inspector Jeff Pelley joined our team as our Operations Officer and seamlessly transitioned into his role. His impact was immediate, demonstrating leadership, professionalism, and community engagement from the start," Lecky said.

Pelley has been a Mountie for nearly 23 years, including positions throughout several B.C. Interior detachments.

He most recently moved to the Kamloops detachment last year after spending time in Williams Lake.

He was interviewed by Mayor Christian, chief administrative officer David Trawin and Southeast District RCMP before their recommendation was endorsed by the RCMP, according to the release.

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