The Cold Lake RCMP Detachment has a new boss.

Wes Bensmiller is the new Staff Sergeant of the detachment as of August 17. Bensmiller was previously Sergeant of the Wainwright RCMP detachment.

With 18 years experience as an officer and originally hailing from a hamlet just over an hour south of Cold Lake, Bensmiller is settling into the role.

“It’s great. I love the community. I love the area,” Bensmiller told Lakeland Connect. 

“I’m looking forward to the new challenges and experiences in my new position here and getting out there and being involved in the community as much as I can.” 

The Cold Lake Detachment has seen Sgt. Ryan Howrish as the acting boss for roughly two years as the previous Staff Sergeant Scott Buchanan was on leave.

S/Sgt. Buchanan worked in the role from 2018 to 2020, taking over from S/Sgt. Jeremie Landry.

At full strength, there are 33 members and 11 support staff who work for the Cold Lake RCMP. That included members with the Lakeland Crime Reduction Unit, GIS, and Police Dog Services. 

While violent crime, property thefts, drugs, and break and enters are a top focus for the officers, Bensmiller hopes to expand upon the community programming the detachment has already built.

“We’re looking into how to be more community involved and get being engaged with the youth. There’s a lot of great programs here that we’ve done with the Cop Cards and Positive Ticketing campaign, which just ended here last week. It’s a lot of great stuff and we want to continue that and do more of it,” he said. 

“Getting out there, meeting the public, focusing on crime reduction strategies and drugs and help to reduce that in the community and surrounding area. It’s a lot of coming up with ideas and strategies.”