Raf Souccar Explained

Raf Souccar
Birth Date:1956 or 1957
Citizenship:Canada
Occupation:Deputy Commissioner (retired)
Employer:Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Organization:Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Honours:Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces

Raf Souccar (born 1956 or 1957) is a Canadian former deputy police commissioner who lead the anti-drugs work of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. After leaving the police force, Souccar launched and led a medical cannabis company.

Souccar has worked on the board of directors of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and advocates for better services for people who used opioids.

Career

Police career

Souccar became a police officer in 1978[1] and in 2008[2] became the deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),[3] based in Ottawa.[4] During his 35-year police career, Souccar worked as an undercover drug officer,[5] and became the director-general of the police forces drugs and organized crime section.[6] Souccar served on the Prime Minister's marijuana legalization task force. In 2011, after successfully collaborating with Insite on their safe drug injection site, Souccar declined to publicly support the program in a press release.

A photograph of Souccar's silhouette is featured in the emblem that appears on all RCMP police cars and he was awarded the Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by Canada's Governor General Michaëlle Jean on January 9, 2008.[7]

Souccar was put on leave from the police in 2011 after accusing his supervisor, civilian commissioner Bill Elliott, of bullying and disrespectful behaviour.

Medical cannabis career

Souccar launched Aleafia Total Health Network a medical cannabis business, with former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner and politician Julian Fantino on November 14, 2017, eight months prior to the legalisation of recreational cannabis in Canada. Their business was located in a shopping mall in Vaughan. Souccar was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of the company. After launching the cannabis business, politician Don Davies accused Souccar of having a conflict of interest.

During his time as CEO, Souccar oversaw the acquisition of Emblem Corporation, a cannabis producer.[8] Souccar resigned from his role at the company on May 15, 2020.

Airport security

In 2017, Souccar was on the board of directors of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.[9]

Advocacy and personal life

Souccar has advocated that people addicted to opiates should be provided with housing, medical-grade heroin, and mental health services.[10]

Souccar was aged 54 in 2011.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2011-02-08 . ‘Someone had to stand up’ to RCMP commissioner, Mountie says . 2022-11-12 . thestar.com . en.
  2. Web site: 2010-10-21 . Travers: Failed experiment dooms RCMP boss . 2022-11-12 . thestar.com . en.
  3. News: McGillivray . Kate . 14 Nov 2017 . Former police chief who once said legalizing pot is like legalizing murder launching weed-related company . CBC .
  4. Web site: Geddes . John . 2010-08-20 . RCMP and the truth about safe injection sites . 2022-11-12 . Macleans.ca . en-US.
  5. News: Freeze . Colin . 2017-09-22 . Former top cops Fantino, Souccar launch marijuana-services business . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . 2022-11-12.
  6. April 2004 . News Clips . Blue Line Magazine . April 27-28 . 21.
  7. Web site: General . Office of the Secretary to the Governor . Assistant Commissioner Raf Souccar . 2022-11-12 . The Governor General of Canada.
  8. Web site: 2020-04-28 . Fantino resigns from Aleafia Health board alongside former RCMP commissioner . 2022-11-12 . thestar.com . en.
  9. Web site: 2017-03-06 . Search begins for new top Mountie as RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson says he’ll retire in June . 2022-11-12 . thestar.com . en.
  10. Web site: Bains . Camille . 2016-12-14 . Give addicts medical-grade heroin to curb deaths, former Mountie says . 2022-11-12 . British Columbia . en.