Kevin Michael Vickers[1] (born September 29, 1956)[2] is the ninth and current[3] Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons of Canada. The Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for the safety and security of the Parliament buildings and occupants, and ensuring and controlling access to the House of Commons. The position includes the ceremonial function of carrying the ceremonial gold mace into the House of Commons before every sitting.
Kevin M. Vickers | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1956 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | RCMP Academy, Depot Division |
| Occupation | Sergeant-at-Arms |
| Known for | Assisting in the takedown of suspect during the 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill and National War Memorial, Ottawa |
| Spouse | Anne Hubbard (m. 1979-present) |
Vickers received significant media attention following the October 22, 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, during which he killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau as Zehaf-Bibeau was exchanging gunfire with security personnel in the Centre Block, the main building of the Canadian parliamentary complex. Minutes earlier, Zehaf-Bibeau had murdered Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a ceremonial guard, at the Canadian National War Memorial.[4]
Early life
Vickers was born in Chatham, New Brunswick, where his mother Monica was a nurse and his father Bill operated a dairy farm.[5]
Policing career
Vickers served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 29 years, attaining the rank of Chief Superintendent and was the incident commander during the 1999–2000 Burnt Church Crisis.[6][7] He spent ten years stationed in Alberta and ten years stationed in the Northwest Territories,[8] and subsequently was the director-general of the RCMP’s aboriginal police services branch.[9] In 2003, he became Director General of the National Contract Policing Branch for Canada, managing nine separate branches of law enforcement.[8] In 2005, he joined the House of Commons as Director of Security Operation.
As Sergeant-at-Arms
He was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for the Canadian House of Commons on August 24, 2006, and began serving on September 1, 2006.[10][11]
On October 22, 2014, during the Parliament Hill attack, Vickers was credited with the fatal shooting of the gunman in the Parliament Buildings, according to MPs and other witnesses.[12][13] According to information gathered by CTV's Craig Oliver, the gunman entered the Centre Block under the Peace Tower, shooting a Commons Security Guard in the leg, exchanging gunfire, before running down the Hall of Honour to an alcove by the entrance of the Library, which is beside Vickers' office. Vickers pulled a 9mm handgun from a lock-box and entered the hall. He threw himself on the ground to lessen himself as a target and fired three shots that killed the gunman. A niece told the Calgary Sun, "This is the first time in his career that he's shot anyone."[14]
Honours
Vickers is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992 for "significant contributions to fellow citizens, to their community, or to Canada." In 2002 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for contributions to public life. He was also awarded the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal.[15]
In 2009, Vickers was honoured by the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada, for his "long outstanding service to" Canada, and for his "efforts to promote bias-free policing and diversity in the workplace".[16]
In 2011, he was honoured by the Canadian branch of the World Sikh Organization for his decision that Sikh Members of Parliament could wear their kirpans in the House.[17] In 2013, when Idle No More protestors arrived at Parliament Hill, Vickers participated in a ritual exchange of tobacco with Serpent River First Nation chief Isadore Day.[18]
He was recognized by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for his "Outstanding Contribution to Drug Enforcement".[19]
See also
References
- ^ "Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons" (Press release). Niagara Falls, Ontario: Rob Nicholson. August 24, 2006. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
- ^ New Sgt.-at-Arms Vickers steps into Cloutier's shoes - Parliament Hill no more a threat than any large city's mass transit system: Sgt.-at-Arms Vickers; by Bea Vongdouangchanh; at the Hill Times; published September 18, 2006
- ^ House of Commons Procedure and Practice - Sergeants-at-Arms of the House of Commons Since 1867 - Appendix 11. Sergeants-at-Arms of the House of Commons Since 1867; from House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition, 2009; at the Parliament of Canada; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ IAN AUSTEN; RICK GLADSTONE (October 22, 2014). "Gunman Panics Ottawa, Killing Soldier in Spree at Capital". The New York Times.
- ^ Parliament Hill sergeant-at-arms hailed as hero in Ottawa Toronto Star
- ^ Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons, by the Office of the Leader of the Government in The House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform; archived at MarketWired.com; published August 24, 2006; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Intelligent Control: Developments in Public Order Policing in Canada, by Willem De Lint and Alan Hall; published 2009 by University of Toronto Press (via Google Books)
- ^ a b Miramichi’s own Kevin Vickers off to prestigious new position, by Gail Savoy, in the Miramichi Leader (archived at TomKingston.com); published January 2003 (exact date not provided); retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Police explanation sheds little light on dog slaughter; by Greg Younger-Lewis, at Nunatsiaq News; published March 11, 2005; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons Market Wired
- ^ Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons; at RobNicholsonMP.ca; published August 24, 2006; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Kevin Vickers, Sergeant-At-Arms, Shoots a Shooting Suspect in Ottawa; Called a 'Hero', by Zachary Stieber, at the Epoch Times; published October 22, 2014; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ What unfolded during the attack in Ottawa, by Joe Friesen, at Globe and Mail; published October 22, 2014; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Michael Platt (October 22, 2014). "Parliament Hill shooting: Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers the family hero who took down Ottawa gunman". Calgary Sun.
- ^ RCMP Vet of the Month: July 2008 - About our author: Sergeant at Arms, Kevin M. Vickers, by J. J. "Buffalo Joe" Healy; at RCMPGraves.com; published July 2008; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ 15TH ANNUAL EID-UL-FITR - OCTOBER 7, 2009, at the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada; published October 7, 2009; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Parliament to 'accept and embrace' wearing of kirpan, sergeant-at-arms explains, by Jane Taber, at The Globe and Mail; published June 2, 2011; updated September 10, 2012; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ Idle No More protest visits Parliament Hill; by Matt Rabey, at Lambda; published January 23, 2013; retrieved October 22, 2014
- ^ "Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons". Marketwire.