Kelowna

Kelowna's city manager will play a role in finding a replacement for Kelowna RCMP Supt. Bill, McKinnon.

Photo: Castanet Staff

City Manager, Ron Mattiussi

McKinnon, the city's top cop the last nine years, announced Wednesday he would be retiring effective next Thursday, March 28.

Ron Mattiussi says it is his understanding he will be one of three members of a panel that will have input in the detachment's new superintendent.

"All I have received is Bill's official notice. I'm sure at some point in time I will get notification from the RCMP as to what their interim plan is. My understanding is that the city will have input into the process, but I have not been notified as to what that is," says Mattiussi.

"We expect to play a pretty critical role. We invest an awful lot of money into the RCMP and we would think that we should have a fairly proportionate share of the decision making. We'll see how the process plays out."

Mattiussi says, like everybody else, he received notification of McKinnon's plans Wednesday.

"I got the formal notification yesterday. He informed us previously (he) was eligible to retire and he could go at certain points this year. We certainly don't begrudge Bill anything."

McKinnon has served with the RCMP for 38 years.

He was in Kelowna for three years before being named Superintendent in May, 2004, after Don Harrison was promoted.