Royal Newfoundland Constabulary

Last updated
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Logo.svg
Badge of the RNC
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary patch.png
Shoulder flash of the RNC
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary flash.png
Shirt and vest patch
Flag of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.png
RNC flag
AbbreviationRNC
Motto"Safer Communities Through Policing Excellence"
Agency overview
Formed1841
Preceding agency
  • Newfoundland Constabulary (1729)
Employees545 (2015, approximately)
Annual budgetTotal RNC $60,043,208 Total Current $48,454,517 (2012-2013)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionNewfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.svg
The area served by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
Population526,702
Legal jurisdictionProvincial
Governing body His Majesty in Right of Newfoundland
Constituting instrument
  • Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Act [1]
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters1 Fort Townshend, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Officers420 (approximately)
Civilians125 (approximately)
Minister responsible
  • John Hogan, Minister of Justice and Public Safety
Agency executive
Facilities
Office or detachments6
Website
www.rnc.gov.nl.ca OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) is the provincial police service for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Contents

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is one of three provincial police forces in Canada, alongside the Ontario Provincial Police and the Sûreté du Québec . Uniquely, the responsibility for policing in Newfoundland and Labrador is not granted to municipalities. In Ontario and Quebec, the provincial police provide frontline police services only to small communities or at the request of a municipal council; in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Constabulary operates in all communities by default. Since 1949, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have provided police services in the province's rural interior, in place of the RNC. [2]

As of 2023, the Constabulary currently serves or is expanding to serve the northeast Avalon Peninsula (metropolitan St. John's); the Bay of Islands and the Humber Valley (metropolitan Corner Brook); and western Labrador (Churchill Falls, Labrador City, and Wabush). [3] [1] [4]

History

The first police constables in Newfoundland and Labrador were appointed by Governor Henry Osborn to six separate judicial districts in 1729. In the 19th century, the RNC was modeled after the Royal Irish Constabulary [5] with the secondment in 1844 of Timothy Mitchell to be Inspector General. The administration of police services was centralized under one Inspector and General Superintendent of Police in 1853. [6] Legislation governing the Newfoundland Constabulary was passed by the House of Assembly in 1871.

In January 1909, John J. Sullivan became the first Newfoundland-born police chief of the Constabulary, a post he held until September 1917. [7]

In 1935, the Newfoundland Commission of Government established the Newfoundland Ranger Force, a police service modelled on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to serve rural parts of Newfoundland and Labrador. [8] The Ranger Force replaced the Newfoundland Constabulary outside of the Avalon Peninsula, the Humber Arm (and in particular, the four communities that make up present-day Corner Brook), Grand Falls, and other built-up communities on the island. [8]

During World War II, the Newfoundland Constabulary provided police and investigative services to the foreign militaries stationed at St. John's, famously investigating the 1942 Knights of Columbus Hostel fire, a fatal structure fire believed to have been an arson attack. [9] [10]

After Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada in 1949, the Ranger Force was disbanded and replaced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which also replaced the Newfoundland Constabulary outside of the City of St. John's. [11]

In 1979, Queen Elizabeth II of Canada conferred a royal patronage on the Newfoundland Constabulary in recognition of its long history of service to Newfoundland and Labrador. [11] The force subsequently changed its name to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

The first women were sworn in as constables in 1980. [11]

Between 1981 and 1986, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary gradually re-expanded, replacing the RCMP in the northeast Avalon Region, parts of Labrador, and Corner Brook. [11]

In 1998, RNC officers were authorized to begin carrying their handguns on their belt. [12] Previously, officers were required to keep their firearms locked in the trunk of their car unless they were needed.

On May 3, 2005, the RNC made a formal exchange of colours with the Garda Síochána, one of two successor forces to the Royal Irish Constabulary. The exchange of colours was to mark the historic links between policing in Newfoundland and Ireland.

In 2019, the force hired its first Black police officers, Paul Growns and Jevaughn Coley. [13]

In 2022, the Constabulary sparked controversy after it was revealed that a constable facing four domestic violence-related charges was granted the Chief of Police's Commendation, which recognizes "distinguished, commendable act of police duty or outstanding contribution to the RNC," during her criminal trial. [14]

In 2023, the Constabulary re-expanded again, replacing the RCMP in the areas surrounding Corner Brook, to Pasadena in the northeast and the Bay of Islands in the west. [4]

Operations

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary operates out of five police stations, referred to as regional offices or detachments:

The Constabulary also maintains a satellite office of the St. John's Regional Office in Mount Pearl. [3]

Organizational structure

RankCommanding officersSenior officersPolice officersOfficer-in-training
Chief of Police Deputy Chief of Police Superintendent Inspector Staff Sergeant Sergeant Constable Cadet
INSIGNIA
RNC Chief.png
RNC Deputy Chief.png
RNC Superintendent.png
RNC Inspector.png
RNC Staff Sergeant.png
RNC Sergeant.png
RNC Constable.png
RNC Cadet.png

Specialized units

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary maintains several specialized investigative and response units, including a tactical response team, criminal and general investigations units, a police dogs unit, a marine unit, a public order unit, and a collision reconstruction team. [15]

Mounted unit

The RNC has operated a mounted unit since 1873. [16]

RNC Constables march in their dress uniforms along with Sea Cadets and other groups at the Labrador City Remembrance Day Parade, 2023 RNC parade in Labrador City 2023.jpg
RNC Constables march in their dress uniforms along with Sea Cadets and other groups at the Labrador City Remembrance Day Parade, 2023

The current horse-mounted team was created in 2003, replacing a voluntary unit. The unit's history can be traced back to three earlier units, the Newfoundland Constabulary Mounted Force 1873–1894, New Fire Brigade Mounted Force 1895–1922, and Newfoundland Constabulary 1922–1951.

The unit has four Percheron horses: [16]

  • Dr. Rich
  • Townshend
  • Fraize
  • Dobbin

Fleet

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary maintains a fleet of vehicles of models from several major automakers, such as models including but not limited to the following:

RNC Police Interceptor Ford Taurus at the Labrador City Town Hall. Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.jpg
RNC Police Interceptor Ford Taurus at the Labrador City Town Hall.
Make/ModelTypeStatusOrigin
Chevrolet Impala General police vehicleFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Chevrolet Tahoe (marked) General police vehicle, Traffic ServicesFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Chevrolet Silverado (marked) General police vehicle, Forensic Identification SectionFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Dodge Charger General police vehicleFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ram pickup Parking Enforcement, Document Services SectionFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ford Police Interceptor Highway Unit, General police vehicle, Traffic ServicesFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ford Expedition (marked) Supervisor Truck, Traffic Services, Special OperationsFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ford F-150 General police vehicle, Forensic Services SectionFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
GMC Sierra General police vehicleFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Dodge Durango General police vehicleFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ford Explorer (Ford Police Interceptor Utility) (2020+)General police vehicleFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Equipment

As a result of the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Arming Policy of the RNC, members on operational duty were permitted to wear sidearms starting 14 June 1998. [17] Previously, members were required to keep all firearms secured in the trunk of the police cruiser and were only deployed with permission from the Chief.

ModelTypeImageOriginDetails
SIG Sauer P226 handgun
SIG Sauer P226 neu.jpg
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Colt C8 Patrol Carbine Semi-automatic rifle
C8 semi-automatic rifle with EOTech.jpg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Remington Model 870 shotgun
M870mcs.jpg
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Pepper spray Lachrymatory agent
Chave.jpg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Armament Systems and Procedures baton collapsible baton
21' ASP Baton.jpg
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Taser X26 Electroshock weapon
Police issue X26 TASER-white.jpg
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

See also

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  1. The Sovereign
  2. Consort of the Sovereign
  3. Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
  4. Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
  5. Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador
  6. Speaker of the House of Assembly
  7. Former Lieutenant Governors, in order of their departure from office
    1. Frank Fagan
    2. Judy Foote
  8. Former Premiers, in order of their departure from office
    1. Brian Peckford
    2. Tom Rideout
    3. Clyde Wells
    4. Brian Tobin
    5. Beaton Tulk
    6. Roger Grimes
    7. Danny Williams
    8. Kathy Dunderdale
    9. Tom Marshall
    10. Paul Davis
    11. Dwight Ball
  9. Members of the Executive Council
  10. Leader of the Opposition
  11. Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada resident in Newfoundland and Labrador
  12. Members of the Cabinet of Canada who represent Newfoundland and Labrador
  13. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador
  14. Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador
  15. Puisne justices of the Court of Appeal
  16. Justices of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador
  17. Chief Judge of the Provincial Court
  18. Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court
  19. Puisne judges of the Provincial Court
  20. Associate Chief Judge of the Family Court
  21. Puisne judges of the Family Court
  22. Members of the House of Assembly
  23. Members of the Senate who represent Newfoundland and Labrador
  24. Members of the House of Commons who represent Newfoundland and Labrador
  25. Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. John's
  26. Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador
  27. Minister of the Presbyterian Church
  28. Heads of Consular Post with jurisdiction in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
    1. Honorary Consulate-General of Ireland
    2. Consul General of France
    3. Consulate General of Portugal
    4. Honorary Consulate of Italy
    5. General Consulate of The Netherlands
  29. Mayor of St. John's
  30. Mayor of Corner Brook
  31. Mayor of Mount Pearl
  32. Mayors or other elected officials of incorporated municipalities
  33. Recipients of the Victoria Cross resident in Newfoundland and Labrador
  34. Commanding Officers
    1. CFB Gander
    2. CFB Goose Bay
    3. CFS St. John's
    4. HMCS Cabot
  35. Chief of Police, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
  36. Commanding Officer "B" Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  37. High Sheriff of Newfoundland and Labrador
  38. Members of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
  39. Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland
  40. President and vice-chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland

References

  1. 1 2 Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Act
  2. "About the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  3. 1 2 "Office Locations". Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  4. 1 2 "RNC expanding on Newfoundland's west coast, citing Mountie shortage". CBC News.
  5. "Royal Newfoundland Constabulary". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  6. "Our History". Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  7. The Biography of John J. Sullivan.
  8. 1 2 "Newfoundland Ranger Force". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  9. Browne, Gary (2009). To Serve and Protect: The Newfoundland Constabulary on the Home Front World War Two. ISBN   978-0-9783434-9-1.
  10. Darrin McGrath (December 2002). Last Dance: The Knights of Columbus Fire. St. John's, Newfoundland: Flanker Press. ISBN   1-894463-25-0. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Newfoundland Constabulary". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  12. "Annual Report of the Auditor General 2001" (PDF).
  13. "Diverse 2019 class of RNC cadets includes the force's first black officer". CBC News.
  14. "Critics slam commendation for RNC officer on trial for assault". CBC News.
  15. "What We Do". Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  16. 1 2 "Mounted Unit". Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  17. "Annual Report of the Auditor General 2001" (PDF).