Longtime Nanaimo Mountie retires early to commit to mayoral bid
NANAIMO — A veteran Nanaimo RCMP officer, who wants to be the city’s next mayor, is turning in his police badge earlier than he wanted to.
Cpl. Norm Smith, 51, caps off a 31-year career as a Mountie on Thursday, Jan. 12.
Smith says he was made aware of an RCMP policy that forbids active members to remain on the force while campaigning for political office.
“The city is paying my salary,” said Smith. “I do see where it can be conceived as a conflict and I don’t want things to be like that.”