Vermilion Welcomes New RCMP Detachment Commander

Vermilion Welcomes New RCMP Detachment Commander

The Vermilion RCMP detachment officially welcomed its new commander earlier this month, as Sgt. Kenneth Shamblaw assumed his new role on January 5.

Sgt. Shamblaw brings with him 15 years of service with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, all of which have been spent in Alberta. Throughout his career, he has worked in a variety of roles, including postings in Sherwood Park, Provincial Fraud, and Staffing. He has also served as a police negotiator. Most recently, Sgt. Shamblaw was the detachment commander in Consort, a position he held for approximately two and a half years.

His move to Vermilion was a deliberate one. Sgt. Shamblaw said he was seeking another detachment commander position in a small community, and the opportunity in Vermilion also represented a promotion. In making his decision, he sought advice from a former detachment commander, asking whether they would choose the role again if given the chance. When the answer was an unequivocal yes, it helped solidify his choice.

Sgt. Shamblaw has relocated to Vermilion with his wife. The couple has three grown sons, aged 31, 27, and 25, who currently live in Edmonton and Calgary. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time walking his two dogs, an Irish-Labrador retriever and a husky-shepherd mix. He also enjoys golfing and, when fall arrives, goose hunting.

Community involvement has been an important part of Sgt. Shamblaw’s policing career. During his time in Consort, one of his main extracurricular focuses was fundraising for the local food bank, where nearly $10,000 was raised over a two-and-a-half-year period. He said he is looking forward to continuing that type of community support in Vermilion and working with the local food bank.

Looking ahead, Sgt. Shamblaw said his priority is to work collaboratively with the community and key stakeholders to help reduce crime and serve the residents of Vermilion and the surrounding areas. He emphasized the importance of communication and accessibility, noting that he has always maintained an open-door policy.

“I have always had an open door policy and encourage those who have any questions or concerns to either give us a call or stop by the detachment,” he said.

As Sgt. Shamblaw settles into his new role, he said he looks forward to becoming part of the Vermilion community and building strong working relationships with residents and local organizations alike.