smallimage predecessor blankname term_start namedata article_title name occupation
sergeant-at-arms of the canadian house of commons kevin vickers clerk january 2015 audrey o'brien pat mcdonell
 pat mcdonell police officer , parliamentary official
pat mcdonell

pat mcdonell is the deputy sergeant-at-arms and director general of protective services for the parliament of canada .
he first served under , and then took over the duties of kevin vickers when vickers was appointed canadian ambassador to ireland in january 2015 .
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 .
he joined the parliamentary security team as head of senate security in late 2010 or early 2011 .
mcdonell was honored by a standing ovation from parliament along with vickers and the rest of the security team after a gunman shot a soldier standing guard at the national war memorial before storming parliament hill and being killed by vickers in the hall of honour on october 22 , 2014 .
prior to his role in parliament , mcdonell served in the royal canadian mounted police -lrb- rcmp -rrb- for 30 years , rising to the rank of assistant commissioner .
his last rcmp post was head of rcmp 's protective policing unit , which includes the mounties who patrol parliament hill and embassies in ottawa and canada 's air marshall service .
