Kelowna RCMP boss retires amid unknown allegations

The head of the RCMP in Kelowna has retired amid an independent police investigation into his detachment.

Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen confirmed in an email that Supt. Nick Romanchuk had taken time off since early September and that he decided to retire from the force on Monday.

Insp. Brent Mundle is taking his place in the interim, Vermeulen said in an email on Tuesday.

Abbotsford police began an investigation of allegations against the Kelowna RCMP detachment in September, around the same time Romanchuk, who became superintendent in 2013, took time off, but Vermeulen would not disclose the nature of the investigation. He also did not comment on whether there was an internal Code of Conduct investigation underway involving Romanchuk or anyone else in the detachment. He said he would provide no further comment or information, and did not give a reason for that decision.

Const. Ian MacDonald, a spokesman for the Abbotsford police, confirmed that the department is looking into a series of allegations involving the Kelowna detachment, but also would not provide any details.

According to Rob Mayne, the City of Kelowna’s director of corporate and protective services, the revelation that the detachment was being investigated came as a surprise to the city, adding he is not aware of the nature of the allegations or the status of the Abbotsford police investigation.