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Boundary’s top cop transfers

Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison has been transferred to a position reporting to Kelowna.

After six years and nine months with the Grand Forks and Midway RCMP detachment, Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison has accepted a position at the district office in Kelowna.

“I’ve been transferred to Kelowna to our district management team,” said Harrison to the Gazette on Tuesday. “I’m not the detachment commander anymore.”

Harrison and his wife will remain in Grand Forks until they are able to sell their house here. As long as he remains here, he expects to continue to be involved with the Multi-Agency Accommodation Project (MAAP) and with BETHS (Boundary Extreme Weather Shelter), where he sits as vice-chair.

Harrison’s new position will be as an advisory NCO.“I’ll report to the district commander (chief superintendent Frank Smart). My job is basically a district liaison with all the detachment commanders in the Kootenay Boundary region from Salmo to Nakusp to Midway. I’ll be representing the district officer out of Kelowna.”

Harrison said the job offer is a lateral transfer as far as rank and was quite unexpected. “It was totally out of the blue,” said Harrison. “The boss in Kelowna called me up and asked when I was going to retire. I said I didn’t have any immediate plans. He said, ‘Good. I want you on my team.’ It was one of those things that just came out of the blue.”

Harrison has been in Grand Forks for almost seven years and has really enjoyed his time here.

“Absolutely loved it,” he said. “It’s a wonderful community. I’ve been very involved in the community and will continue to be involved in the community right until the day I move.”

He said he is not aware of any replacement for him being named for the Grand Forks and Midway RCMP detachments. In the mean time, Cpl. Richard Lanz will take over as commander for Grand Forks and Midway.

“It’s been a pleasure working in this community,” added Harrison. “I want to thank everyone who I had an opportunity to work with. I’ve had the pleasure of being involved in some pretty important things in our community. It’s been home for my wife and I.”