John Brewer – VISS25
Assistant Commissioner, Criminal Operations Officer, RCMP
Assistant Commissioner John Brewer joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1994. Over the course of his service he has been assigned to duties ranging from General Duty, Emergency Response Team, Drug and Gang Enforcement to Indigenous and Community Policing throughout British Columbia, as well as International Policing in Afghanistan.
He was first posted in Nanaimo, British Columbia in 1994 where he worked in General Duty, Drug Enforcement and Community Policing. In 2002 he was promoted and transferred to Richmond Detachment. In 2004 he was transferred to Elkford Detachment as the Detachment Commander.
He was then promoted to Sergeant and moved to Victoria as the Advisory NCO on Vancouver Island. In 2007 a dispute arose on Spat Mountain between several First nations and developers of the Bear Mountain Resort near Victoria. At the time this was the largest private development in Canada. He led the liaison and mediation between Five First Nations, Developers, The Province of BC and the Municipality of Langford to a successful conclusion. Sergeant. Brewer was awarded a Commanding Officers Commendation and British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal for mediating a peaceful settlement at Bear Mountain. In 2009 he was honored by Chief Adam Dick, Kwaxsistalla Wathl’thla, Hereditary Chief of Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations, for his work in developing the RCMP procedures and policies of the Heritage Conservation Act of British Columbia. In a ceremony, at the Mungo Martin Big House in Victoria, Sergeant. Brewer was adopted into Chief Dick’s Wolf Clan and given his traditional clan name.
In 2008 he was commissioned to the rank of Inspector as the Officer in Charge of Operational Development Unit in Operations Strategy Branch. In 2010 he served as the NATO Senior Police Advisor in Afghanistan for the Afghanistan Border Police where he was awarded the United States Superior Service Medal for actions during his tour of duty. Upon returning to duty in British Columbia in 2011, he served as the BC RCMP Audit and Compliance Officer, Officer in Charge of Professional Standards enforcing the RCMP discipline process in British Columbia and Officer in Charge of BC RCMP Indigenous Policing Services. In 2016 he was promoted to Superintendent as the Officer in Charge of Enhanced Community, Indigenous and Marine Policing Services. In 2019 he was named as a Member of Merit of Police for his development of the Police Liaison Program National Framework and Police Liaison Team concept in “E” Division. In 2021 he was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent as the deputy Criminal Operations Officer, Core Policing, for “E” Division. In 2023 he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner as the Criminal Operations Officer, Core Policing for the British Columbia RCMP.
Throughout 2017 to 2023 he has been the Operational Silver Commander or Gold Strategic Commander of the Community Industry Response Group. During this time he has successfully led the RCMP response for the largest pipeline, logging and civil disobedience protests in recent memory. This included the Fairy Creek anti-logging encampments, multiple Trans-Mountain and Coastal Gas Link pipeline protests and the Anti-Mandate CV-19 protests.
He is a proud member of the Lower Simikameen Indian Band – Smalqmix. He was born in Penticton and raised in Princeton, British Columbia. The son of a logger, he lived and worked throughout Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and the Interior of British Columbia. He and his brother, Cole Brewer, are the most recent of four generations of RCMP members in his family. He is married to Wendy, who works as the Community Health Nurse for Tsawwassen First Nation, and is the proud father to two boys, John jr. and Zachary.
Assistant Commissioner John Brewer joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1994. Over the course of his service he has been assigned to duties ranging from General Duty, Emergency Response Team, Drug and Gang Enforcement to Indigenous and Community Policing throughout British Columbia, as well as International Policing in Afghanistan.
He was first posted in Nanaimo, British Columbia in 1994 where he worked in General Duty, Drug Enforcement and Community Policing. In 2002 he was promoted and transferred to Richmond Detachment. In 2004 he was transferred to Elkford Detachment as the Detachment Commander.
He was then promoted to Sergeant and moved to Victoria as the Advisory NCO on Vancouver Island. In 2007 a dispute arose on Spat Mountain between several First nations and developers of the Bear Mountain Resort near Victoria. At the time this was the largest private development in Canada. He led the liaison and mediation between Five First Nations, Developers, The Province of BC and the Municipality of Langford to a successful conclusion. Sergeant. Brewer was awarded a Commanding Officers Commendation and British Columbia Meritorious Service Medal for mediating a peaceful settlement at Bear Mountain. In 2009 he was honored by Chief Adam Dick, Kwaxsistalla Wathl’thla, Hereditary Chief of Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations, for his work in developing the RCMP procedures and policies of the Heritage Conservation Act of British Columbia. In a ceremony, at the Mungo Martin Big House in Victoria, Sergeant. Brewer was adopted into Chief Dick’s Wolf Clan and given his traditional clan name.
In 2008 he was commissioned to the rank of Inspector as the Officer in Charge of Operational Development Unit in Operations Strategy Branch. In 2010 he served as the NATO Senior Police Advisor in Afghanistan for the Afghanistan Border Police where he was awarded the United States Superior Service Medal for actions during his tour of duty. Upon returning to duty in British Columbia in 2011, he served as the BC RCMP Audit and Compliance Officer, Officer in Charge of Professional Standards enforcing the RCMP discipline process in British Columbia and Officer in Charge of BC RCMP Indigenous Policing Services. In 2016 he was promoted to Superintendent as the Officer in Charge of Enhanced Community, Indigenous and Marine Policing Services. In 2019 he was named as a Member of Merit of Police for his development of the Police Liaison Program National Framework and Police Liaison Team concept in “E” Division. In 2021 he was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent as the deputy Criminal Operations Officer, Core Policing, for “E” Division. In 2023 he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner as the Criminal Operations Officer, Core Policing for the British Columbia RCMP.
Throughout 2017 to 2023 he has been the Operational Silver Commander or Gold Strategic Commander of the Community Industry Response Group. During this time he has successfully led the RCMP response for the largest pipeline, logging and civil disobedience protests in recent memory. This included the Fairy Creek anti-logging encampments, multiple Trans-Mountain and Coastal Gas Link pipeline protests and the Anti-Mandate CV-19 protests.
He is a proud member of the Lower Simikameen Indian Band – Smalqmix. He was born in Penticton and raised in Princeton, British Columbia. The son of a logger, he lived and worked throughout Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and the Interior of British Columbia. He and his brother, Cole Brewer, are the most recent of four generations of RCMP members in his family. He is married to Wendy, who works as the Community Health Nurse for Tsawwassen First Nation, and is the proud father to two boys, John jr. and Zachary.
