RCMP’s Elliott sees no problem in transition

(CBC News) – RCMP Commissioner William Elliott, who will step down from his position in July, said Wednesday he is not concerned about being a lame duck.

“The time frame that’s been established will allow the government to pick my successor and for us to have that orderly transition, and I think that’s in the best interest of the force,” Elliott told reporters in Regina, where he was attending a change-in-command ceremony.

“I am convinced that what’s in the best interests of the RCMP is in the best interests of Canada.”

Elliott said he didn’t watch much of Tuesday’s committee testimony by Deputy Commissioner Raf Souccar and former assistant commissioner Mike McDonell, but did hear a summary. He said the testimony was old news, and he disagrees with what they had to say, but that he is ready to turn the page.

Elliott said his management team is united, and that the RCMP is bigger than any one individual.

Souccar, who was among senior officers raising concerns about Elliott’s management style, testified before a Parliamentary committee Tuesday that he felt he had the duty “to stand up” and complain to federal authorities.

He and several other RCMP executives complained in July to the authorities that Elliott — the first civilian to head the commission — was verbally abusive, arrogant and insulting. As well, they said Elliott criticized officers in public.

“I come from a school where you critique in private and praise in public,” Souccar said.

During a meeting at which he was told he was being demoted, Souccar told the committee, Elliott informed him he was widely seen as having leaked the matter to the media.

“I did not leak this matter to the media, and I did not directly or indirectly influence anyone to leak this matter to the media,” Souccar said. “I told him that I was prepared to take a polygraph test, and that offer still stands.”

Souccar is currently on leave.