The commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police is leaving the force for a policing job in Ireland, amid criticism for the way she handled a native occupation of a disputed housing development in Caledonia.

Gwen Boniface joined the OPP in 1977 and in 1998 became the first woman commissioner of the provincial force.

She will take official leave in October to join a newly established three-person panel that will oversee Ireland's 13,000-member National Police Force, Ontario Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said Friday.

The announcement of Boniface's departure comes about five months after aboriginal protesters began occupying the Caledonia construction site, maintaining that the land is part of a land grant from the late 1700s.

The provincial and federal governments have maintained the land was later surrendered.

Kwinter told CBC News that Boniface's departure has nothing to do with the Caledonia standoff.

He said Boniface was made an offer she couldn't refuse, and added her decision was both a personal and professional one.

But MPP Bob Runciman, a former provincial solicitor general, said the timing is suspect.

"It may be in some way shape or form linked to what's happened with the Caledonia occupation situation for the past months, and the non-confidence motions in her leadership which several elements of the Ontario Provincial Police Association have been carrying out, " Runciman told CBC.

Runciman said he doesn't know the outcome of the non-confidence votes, but said they had in fact taken place.

Commissioner under fire

Critics say OPP, under Boniface, treated native protesters differently during the sometimes-violent dispute.

In fact, some Caledonia residents began circulating an internet petition earlier this month calling for her resignation.

The petition said Boniface allegedly failed to protect the people of Caledonia as well as the town's power station, bridges, roads and homes during the protest.

But in a statement earlier this month, Boniface said she is proud of her force, and dismissed accusations that her officers treated aboriginals differently.

"I think the right decisions have been made and they've been carried out by competent men and women in the OPP," she said.

There will be a Canada-wide search for Boniface's replacement as commissioner.

with files from the Canadian Press