Biography R.R. (Rod) Knecht Deputy Commissioner North West Region

On August 15, 2007, Rod Knecht was appointed to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was given the responsibility of overseeing RCMP operations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the North West Territories and Nunavut.

This area, known as the North West Region of the RCMP, is comprised of more than 6,600 employees distributed across Canada’s prairie provinces and the Arctic. In addition to this new regional role, Deputy Commissioner Knecht was also appointed to serve as the Commanding Officer of "K" Division. In this role, Deputy Commissioner Knecht is the senior officer responsible for RCMP operations in Alberta and oversees approximately 3,000 employees who work tirelessly to provide contract policing services in 107 detachments across the province.

Professional Experience
Deputy Commissioner Knecht joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1977, completed recruit training in Regina Saskatchewan and was posted to Saskatchewan until 1992. While in Saskatchewan, he performed a variety of policing roles throughout the province. Throughout his years as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Deputy Commissioner Knecht has gained extensive operational, administrative and managerial experience through postings in various units including: major crimes, economic crime, drug enforcement, and through his involvement in various contract and project-based policing initiatives. He has served in several municipal and provincial policing postings in northern communities, First Nations communities, rural communities and large urban centres.

In 1993 Deputy Commissioner Knecht was transferred to the Province of Ontario and served in“O” Division in various capacities and participated in several special projects. He spent several years in federal enforcement, working in various sections including drugs, customs and excise and proceeds of crime. In 1997, Deputy Commissioner Knecht was commissioned to the rank of Inspector and became the Officer-in-Charge of the Blood Task Force (Krever Commission) for a period of five years.

During this time, he led a high-profile, sensitive, multi-jurisdictional international scientific/medically-based investigation into the blood system of Canada. In May 2001, Deputy Commissioner Knecht was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and took command of Toronto West Detachment and Toronto Drug Section. He was the designated Officer-in-Charge of Risk Management for the Greater Toronto area post-911 and developed an Operational Risk Management model for Federal Policing. This model has since been adopted for Contract Policing in “K” Division (Alberta). In 2003, Deputy Commissioner Knecht was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent and became the Officer-in-Charge of Criminal Operations for RCMP “K” Division (Alberta).

As the second-in-command for RCMP operations in Alberta, he facilitated intelligence-led policing within a municipal, provincial and federal policing environment for the full complement of RCMP members posted within Alberta. In February 2006, Deputy Commissioner Knecht was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner and continued to serve as the Officer-in-Charge of Criminal Operations in Alberta.

Honours and Awards
Deputy Commissioner Knecht has received numerous honours and awards to mark his achievements and milestones throughout his career in the RCMP. Recognitions include:

• Order of Merit of Police Forces
• Queen’s Golden Jubilee
• 20-year Long Service Medal
• 25-year Long Service Medal Bronze Clasp
• 30-year Long Service Medal Silver Clasp
• Alberta Centennial Medal