Kevin Michael Vickers (born September 29, 1956) is the ninth and current Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons of Canada. 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 received significant media attention following the October 22, 2014 incident, when he killed an assailant with a rifle or shotgun who had entered the Parliament buildings.
Vickers served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 29 years, attaining the rank of Chief Superintendent and was the incident commander during the 1999–2000 Burnt Church Crisis. He spent ten years stationed in Alberta and ten years stationed in the Northwest Territories, and subsequently was the director-general of the RCMP’s aboriginal police services branch. In 2003, he became Director General of the National Contract Policing Branch for Canada, managing nine separate branches of law enforcement. In 2005, he joined the House of Commons as Director of Security Operation.
He was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for the Canadian House of Commons on August 24, 2006, and began serving on September 1, 2006.
On October 22, 2014, during the Parliament Hill attack, Vickers was credited with the fatal shooting of the gunman in the Parliament Buildings, according to MPs and other witnesses. According to information gathered by CTV's Craig Oliver the gunman entered the Centre Block under the Peace Tower, shooting a Commons Security Guard in the leg, exchanging gunfire, before running down the Hall of Honour to an alcove by the entrance of the Library, which is beside Vickers' office. Vickers pulled a 9mm handgun from a lockbox and entered the hall. He threw himself on the ground to lessen himself as a target and fired three shots that killed the gunman, including a head shot. A niece told the Calgary Sun, “This is the first time in his career that he's shot anyone.”
Vickers is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992 for "significant contributions to fellow citizens, to their community, or to Canada." In 2002 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for contributions to public life. He was also awarded the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal.
In 2009, Vickers was honoured by the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada, for his "long outstanding service to" Canada, and for his "efforts to promote bias-free policing and diversity in the workplace".
In 2011, he was honoured by the Canadian branch of the World Sikh Organization for his decision that Sikh Members of Parliament could wear their kirpans in the House.
In 2013, when Idle No More protestors arrived at Parliament Hill, Vickers participated in a ritual exchange of tobacco with Serpent River First Nation chief Isadore Day.
He was recognized by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for his "Outstanding Contribution to Drug Enforcement".
