Athabasca’s RCMP detachment commander of two years will soon be leaving the community for a new position.
Staff Sgt. Brian Nicholl announced his departure during a crime statistics presentation to Town of Athabasca council Jan. 23.
“I am going to be transferring out this year,” he said. “I just wanted to let you guys all know that process for hiring a new detachment commander will be started I suspect possibly this week.”
Nicholl added his new position would be overseeing the Athabasca detachment on a different level, as a district advisory non-commissioned officer.
He told council this is the first transfer he has had where he is not ready to leave the community.
“I really love Athabasca, Athabasca has been a great town,” Nicholl said. “I’m not ready; I don’t feel I’ve done everything. I did say yes to the transfer, but it is a fantastic community. I’ve had nothing but good things to say with mayor and council.”
Nicholl said his last day is not set in stone yet, but that he would be gone at the latest by summer.
Mayor Colleen Powell thanked Nicholl for his service to the town.
Nicholl said in an interview it is a “bittersweet” transfer.
“I’m excited and really looking forward to the new challenges,” he said. “A lot of things have happened in Athabasca in the last few years when it comes to policing in the communities. We’ve made a lot of good things happen. I don’t feel like we’re fully there where I’d like to see it.”
