Story by James Wood, MyComoxValleyNow.com
COURTENAY, B.C- The Comox Valley’s new cop hadn’t been planning on a new job.
Inspector Mike Kurvers, formerly of the Fort St. John RCMP detachment, announced his retirement in June of this year. He had been in the city for the last four years, and serving in the RCMP for the past 28 years.
However, the retirement has proven to be short-lived, with Kurvers announced as the new leader of the Comox Valley RCMP on Thursday.
According to Courtenay mayor Larry Jangula, Kurvers was “likely headhunted” for the Valley role.
“He had planned to retire, and upper management of the RCMP were pleased with his performance and felt that he would be very useful for this purpose, for this detachment, talked to him about it, and he agreed,” said Jangula.
Jangula said he was “very comfortable” with the choice, after meeting Kurvers personally. He made particular mention of the new leader’s experience with detachment work.
“This is a very large, complicated community, and the policing is no different than anything else that happens here,” said Jangula.
“The other thing that I was given, as well as the other mayors, was a list of references for this individual.”
Jangula said those references “came back strong”.
A report from the Comox Valley Record also mentioned a recommendation by RCMP Island Division Chief Supt. Sean Sullivan of Kurvers for the spot.
According to the Record, Sullivan stated the job was not open when Kurvers announced his retirement.
“Once he became aware it was mutually agreed upon with all of the mayors and First Nations band to conduct an interview to see if he was the right fit,” the Record quoted Sullivan as saying.
“It was unanimous amongst all those participating and Insp. Kurvers was named to the position.”
Sullivan also told the paper that the position wasn’t temporary.
“This is a permanent hiring and Insp. Kurvers is planning on relocating to the Comox Valley to fulfill his term as Commander there,” the officer was quoted as saying.
The paper also reported that Kurvers was the only officer interviewed for the job.
Jangula expects that he’ll be in the city and taking up the position by early August.
“I would love to convince him to live in the city (of Courtenay), but that’s his preference,” said Jangula.
“I suspect it will be wherever he can find a residence that will suit his needs.”
