Nunavut RCMP sees its first female commanding officer

Chief Superintendent Amanda Jones just became Nunavut’s first female RCMP commanding officer.

Taking over Monday, Jan. 21, Jones is now the eighth commanding officer for Nunavut’s RCMP, also known as “V” Division.

Jones holds five medals and one Canadian Forces Decoration to her name.

One of those accolades is for a United Nations posting in Kosovo, where she served for nine months in 2001. 

Jones was also rewarded for her length of career: the RCMP Long Service medal is offered to officers of “irreproachable character” who’ve reached a milestone time in the RCMP, such as 20, 25 years of service.

Jones spent parts of her career in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories since joining in 1992. Before coming to Nunavut, she spent two years as the Northwest Territories’ Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations.

As commanding officer, Jones now leads the Nunavut RCMP’s 25 detachments and 185 employees. She takes over from Chief Superintendent Michael Jeffrey, who held the position from Nov. 14, 2014, to Jan. 2, 2019.

A formal change of command ceremony will take place May 1.