A Ladysmith native will be the top cop in Newfoundland and Labrador.
RCMP Commissioner Robert Paulson announced late last week that Chief Supt. Tracy Hardy has been appointed Commanding Officer of B Division, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Hardy, who was born in Ladysmith, joined the RCMP in 1981. After graduating from Depot, Hardy had a number of posts through Saskatchewan, N.W.T., British Columbia and Yukon. She is presently posted as the Commanding Officer of Prince Edward Island.
Hardy expects to be in her new position before summer.
"I am pleased to welcome Chief Supt. Tracy Hardy as the new Commanding Officer for the RCMP B Division," Felix Collins, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said in a news release. "Chief Supt. Hardy has served extensively throughout Canada, including rural and northern areas, which is a tremendous asset for leading the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador. She brings with her a strong operational background and a commitment to integrating policing with community involvement. As Minister of Justice, I very much look forward to working with Chief Supt. Hardy and the continued delivery of quality policing for the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador."
Hardy is replacing Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Bill Smith, who retired in January.
"We are thrilled to get someone of Tracy's calibre," said Paulson. "She is an outstanding, motivational leader. In the last nationwide survey, Prince Edward Island got a 93-per-cent approval rate from Islanders. That speaks volumes about how she leads."