Creston RCMP Staff Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk is stepping down as detachment commander after three years in the role.
Buliziuk shared the news with Creston council Tuesday. He said he has been elected by his peers as the B.C. director for the National Police Federation.
His tenure as detachment commander formally ends Monday, at which point Cpl. Rick Goodwin will serve as acting commander until the position can be filled permanently.
Buliziuk has spent 20 years in policing and called his time leading the detachment the highlight of his career.
“I can honestly say that serving as the detachment commander in Creston has been the highlight of my policing career. Hands down,” Buliziuk said.
He said his new role gives him an opportunity to advocate for frontline officers and push for changes that affect their working conditions.
“I really believe in looking out for the wellness and what’s best for our people that are serving,” he said. “This gives me an opportunity to be at a table where I can work on that as equally passionately, but where there’s a little bit more opportunity to have success in making some change.”
His final delegation to council was an emotional one, with Buliziuk thanking the community, his staff and council for their support of the RCMP.
“What makes a community special isn’t the absence of challenges. It’s the people who stand beside you when those challenges come. This community has stood beside me and our members time and time again.”
He said the Creston Valley has become more than just a posting for his family.
“The Creston Valley isn’t simply the place I happen to be posted. It has become home. Our family’s built friendships here. We’ve become involved in this community. We’ve watched our community grow and change.”
Although he’s leaving his role with the Creston RCMP, Buliziuk said he’s not saying goodbye to Creston.
“So while this is my final delegation to you as the detachment commander, it certainly isn’t goodbye. I’ll still be here,” he said.
“To all of you, staff, council, thank you. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for supporting our members, and for continuing to do so beyond today. It means the world to me. Thank you for making this chapter of my career what it has been.”
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