NWT officially has a new man in charge at the top.

Chief Supt. Dyson Smith was officially sworn in as the new commanding officer of G Division on Wednesday at a change-of-command ceremony at the legislative assembly. Smith is taking over from Syd Lecky, who left the position to take over as the chief of police in Timmins, Ont., in May 2024.

In his first official speech as commanding officer, Smith said policing in the North has been the most rewarding part of his job.

"Being immersed in our communities (and) getting to know personally our clients allows us to see the impact of our work first-hand," he said.

Smith added that when he accepted the role, he had three priorities: public safety, modernization and demystifying policing. 

He also finished his speech with a direct message to his own division.

"We have faced a number of extremely difficult challenges over the past several years, but we face them together," he said. "I'm proud to work in (this) group, and am optimistic as we continue to move forward."

Commissioner Mike Duheme was also in attendance for the ceremony and said one of the biggest regrets in his career was not working in the North.

"I never had the chance to work up here, so I'll keep visiting detachments as long as I'm in this position," he said during his prepared remarks.

He also mentioned recruitment and retention within the are top priorities, and the North has an added pressure to fill vacancies.

"We're working on new ways to build our workforce and strengthen our numbers," he said.

Lecky, who moved to the NWT in 2022, spoke fondly of his time here.

"To be here, in the Northwest Territories, and to be able to say I was a commanding officer and to see my photo on the wall, in the history of the is particularly meaningful," he said.