ABSTRACT
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is an iconic Canadian institution with its roots in paramilitary peacekeeping on Canada’s frontier in the 1800s but which has developed into a large, sophisticated organization operating domestically and abroad. The RCMP is a complex organization that continues to be strongly influenced by its paramilitary origins while it is also faced with a quickly evolving and expanding mandate in circumstances of limited resources. Throughout its history, the RCMP has been characterized by reluctant and grudging change prompted by crises, grassroots RCMP member discontent, and, especially in recent years, pressures from legal challenges and public inquiries.
