The Mounties have a new detachment commander in Cranbrook.
The RCMP announced the appointment of Sergeant Barry Graham to the position on Tuesday, March 5.
“It is with great pleasure that the RCMP, the City of Cranbrook and surrounding East Kootenay region are formally announcing that Sergeant Barry Graham has been selected as the new Cranbrook RCMP Detachment Commander,” a news release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police read.
Upon his first arrival in Cranbrook, Graham was, and remained the most junior member of the Detachment for five years — and has now reached his dream job as the Detachment Commander.
“I am extremely fortunate to have been posted to such a fantastic area, with even greater people not once but twice!” Sergeant Graham said. “As John Lennon said, “there are no problems, only solutions.” And Yoda — “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Originally from Newfoundland, Graham graduated from the RCMP training academy Depot in 1997 and was sent to his first posting in Cranbrook. He transferred to Kamloops in 2006 where he was promoted to Corporal and held operational & specialized positions in charge of the Action Response Team (KART), property crime and later the Kamloops drug unit teams.
Graham transferred to Salmo, B.C., in July, 2009, as the non-commissioned officer (NCO I/C), then transferred to the Cranbrook Detachment (for the second time) in April 2012 as a watch commander, later promoted to Sergeant as the Cranbrook RCMP Detachment Operations NCO in November 2015.
The City of Cranbrook issued a statement saying the City considers itself lucky to have a detachment commander with the skill set and experience that Sergeant Graham brings to the role.
“With over 20 years in the RCMP, Sergeant Graham will be a fountain of knowledge for his team,” said Acting Mayor Mike Peabody. “As a fellow East Coaster, I am happy to see the Maritimes well represented in the Kootenays.
“On behalf of Council, I congratulate Sergeant Graham in his new position. We look forward to future RCMP reports, and the positive results that we know he and his colleagues will be able to achieve.”