Lawrence Herchmer, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetLawrence Herchmer
Canadian police commissioner
Date of Birth: 
About Lawrence Herchmer
- Lawrence William Herchmer (25 April 1840 – 17 February 1915) was a Canadian and British police commander and army officer, who was also employed as a farmer, brewer and civil servant.
- He served as the fifth Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police, from April 1, 1886 to July 31, 1900.Born in Shipton-on-Cherwell, England, Herchmer served with the British Army and, during 1872-4, as supply officer of the British Boundary Commission, then as Indian agent in Manitoba in 1876.
- He was named RCMP Commissioner in 1886.Although a former military officer, he had not served in the police, and was a civilian at the time he was named as Commissioner of the force.Herchmer was "a capable administrator", but being hot-tempered and overbearing, he gained a "reputation as a tyrant" during his tenure as commissioner.
- Nevertheless, the force under his command gained better benefits, living conditions, organization, and training, and more respect, with a marked improvement in esprit du corps.
- His personality earned him a number of political enemies, leading to charges of mismanagement that produced a judicial inquiry in 1892 (which cleared him) and culminated in his dismissal in 1900, while he was serving with the Canadian Army in South Africa.
- Herchmer considered his firing unjust, and continued to say so until his death.Herchmer introduced the wide-brimmed hats (later adopted as official uniform), and the famous musical ride display of horsemanship.His family had connections with John A.
- Macdonald, first prime minister of Canada, who appointed him.
- He had the political backing to make many important changes to the administration and organization of the force. He died in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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