Dwayne McDonald, the B.C. RCMP commanding officer, has been relieved of his duties following unspecified allegations from 2016 to 2018. The allegations are under investigation by the force, which will not provide further details at this time. McDonald was replaced by John Brewer, who was previously in charge of B.C.'s extortion task force and has held other senior roles within the RCMP. Brewer is being referred to as a "respected member" of the force's senior leadership team by Commissioner Mike Duheme.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer of B.C. RCMP (E Division), has been relieved of his duties due to unspecified allegations from 2016-2018. McDonald, who had nearly three decades of law enforcement experience and was previously the top cop at the Surrey RCMP, has been replaced by John Brewer in his capacity as deputy commissioner and B.C. RCMP commanding officer. The allegations are currently under investigation, but the RCMP is not providing further details. Despite McDonald's removal, the statement from RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme assures that there will be no impact on RCMP operations or policing services in the province. McDonald received the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2015, and previously worked at the Canada Border Services Agency. The investigation into the allegations was recently brought to the RCMP's attention, but the specifics are still unknown.
Written for “RCMP Commanding Officer Relieved” on 2026-08-31,
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No political leaning scored for article 735 · logged 2026-08-27
B.C. RCMP commanding officer relieved of duties following unspecified allegations
Dwayne McDonald has been replaced by John Brewer, following unspecified allegations dating from 2016 to 2018
The RCMP's commanding officer in B.C. has been relieved of his duties following unspecified allegations dating from 2016 to 2018, according to a statement from the force.
uncertain
officer → command → force
Dwayne McDonald has been replaced in his capacity as deputy commissioner and B.C. RCMP commanding officer by John Brewer, who previously headed up B.C.'s extortion task force.
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who → replace → force
The statement, attributed to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme on Thursday, said the force would not be providing further details on the allegations at this time.
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force → attribute → time
"I want to reassure you that there will be no impact on RCMP operations or policing services in the province," Duheme said in the statement.
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Duheme → want → statement
The statement says the allegations are under investigation, and they were "recently brought" to the RCMP's attention.
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they → say → attention
McDonald was formerly the top cop at the Surrey RCMP, and served as the RCMP's criminal operations officer in charge of federal and organized crime investigations for the province of B.C.
CBC News has reached out to the RCMP for more on this story.
McDonald's bio has been removed from a page listing the RCMP's senior executive committee.
A 2024 bio said he had nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, and previously worked at the Canada Border Services Agency.
He had held a number of other roles — including heading up both the Lower Mainland's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit — and frequently spoke at news conferences.
McDonald received the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2015.
The B.C. RCMP, or E Division, is the largest of the force's 15 divisions.
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RCMP → serve → divisions
Brewer, who was appointed as interim commanding officer of E Division and deputy commissioner, was previously an assistant commissioner with the RCMP.
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who → appoint → RCMP
In the RCMP statement, Duheme is quoted as saying that Brewer has his full confidence, and that he is a "respected member of the RCMP’s senior leadership team."
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he → quote → team
