RCMP Insp. Nick Romanchuk, head of the Kootenay Boundary regional detachment based in Nelson, has been promoted to officer in charge of the Kelowna detachment.
Romanchuk, who has spent more than half of his career in the West Kootenay, will be promoted to the rank of superintendent.
Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Romanchuck joined the RCMP in 1991, serving four years in Lillooet before being transferred to the customs excise section.
In 1999, he was promoted to corporal and headed up the Nakusp detachment. In 2002, he transferred to Lumby as sergeant, and then in 2004 became staff sergeant in charge of the Greater Trail detachment.
In 2008, he was promoted to inspector and became the first officer in charge of the new Kootenay Boundary regional detachment, which polices 15 municipalities and most of two regional districts in the West Kootenay/Boundary.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family," Romanchuk said in a news release. "My wife and two daughters are very excited by the propsect of beginning the next chapter of our lives in Kelowna. I feel extremely honoured to have been entrusted with serving the City of Kelowna and surrounding communities as their chief of police."
Romanchuk's replacement in Nelson has not been named.