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As Cameron Ortis climbed the ranks of the RCMP, there was no disputing the depth of his intelligence or his ability to get to the nub of complex matters.

He was among a select cadre of “golden boys” — civilians tapped by the force to help tackle national security and other highly sensitive files. So impressed was former commissioner Bob Paulson, sources say, that he had floated the idea to the senior executive committee on multiple occasions of elevating them to senior police officer or “regular member” status through an expedited program.

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The idea did not sit well with that committee.

In fact, some members of the force, while not disputing the importance of “civilianization” and bringing in people with diverse skills and perspectives, had cast a wary eye on the activities of Ortis and his colleagues, concerned about all the information they had access to, what they were doing with it and whether there was sufficient oversight.