RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador Annual Report 2022

Top 10 calls for service ^{footnote 3}

1. Moving Traffic (10,753)
2. Mischief - Obstruct enjoyment of property (6,258)
3. Mental Health Act - other activities (3,930)
4. False Alarms (3,691)
5. Non-Moving Traffic (2,936)
6. Assault (2,738)
7. Disturbing the peace/Causing a disturbance (2,523)
8. Theft under $5,000^{footnote 4} (2,230)
9. Mischief - damage to property (1,735)
10. Assist the general public (1,729)

Top 10 Criminal Code Violations ^{footnote 5}

1. Mischief - Obstruct enjoyment of property (5,827)
2. Disturbing the peace/Causing a disturbance (2,436)
3. Assault (2,244)
4. Theft under $5,000 (1,835)
5. Mischief - Damage to property (1,617)
6. Uttering threats against a person (1,180)
7. Failure to comply with order (791)
8. Assault with weapon or causing bodily harm (571)
9. Fraud (money/property/security) less than or equal to $5,000 (467)
10. Harassing communications (457)

Crisis Negotiation Team

The Crisis Negotiation Team is composed of highly-motivated regular members with above-average interviewing, communicating and listening skills who provide crisis intervention in:

• Hostage takings
• Kidnappings
• Barricaded persons
• Emotionally distraught individuals

Digital Forensic Services

Digital Forensic Services provides technological investigative support to RCMP units, other police forces and law enforcement agencies, for crimes facilitated by digital devices or computers, including:

• Collecting, analyzing and providing information and criminal intelligence to requesting units
• On-site electronic media examination/analysis
• Providing expert testimony in court proceedings

Emergency Response Team

The Emergency Response Team is a group of highly-trained RCMP members capable of employing specialized weapons, equipment and tactics to resolve extremely high-risk situations, including:

• Armed and barricaded persons
• High-risk searches and arrests
• Aircraft or marine interventions
• VIP and witness protection duties
• Covert surveillance and intelligence gathering
• Rural tracking operations

Forensic Identification Services

Forensic Identification Services provides support to frontline police officers across Newfoundland and Labrador. Responsibilities include:

• Identifying and collecting exhibits
• Detecting, examining, recording, collecting and preserving physical, biological, and/or other trace evidence that can be sent for scientific analysis
• Bloodstain pattern analysis

Integrated Internet Child Exploitation Unit

The priority is of the Integrated Internet Child Exploitation Unit is to combat internet related exploitation of persons under the age of 18. To accomplish this, the Integrated Internet Child Exploitation Unit combines enforcement and public education initiatives to combat:

• The transmission of child pornography
• Luring and/or extortion of children
• Posting by children of sexualized images of themselves online

Major Crime Unit

The Major Crime Unit investigates serious crimes including:

• Homicides and suspicious deaths
• Death or injury of a member caused by firearms
• Discharge of a firearm by members causing injury or death
• Suspicious missing persons

Police Dog Services

Police Dog Services provides investigative support to RCMP Units, and partner police and law enforcement agencies. RCMP dogs are crossed-trained for narcotics or explosives detection, as well as:

• Search and rescue operations
• Locating missing persons
• Tracking suspects and searching crime scenes
• VIP protection

Special Victim Section

The Special Victim Section is composed of the National Sex Offender Registry, Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System, Intimate Partner Violence Co-ordinator and Sexual Assault Investigation Coordinator. Priorities include the following:

• Monitoring and analysis of violent offenders
• Supporting investigative quality through oversight of all sex crimes and Intimate Partner Violence investigations
• Ensuring a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach to victims of violence

Tactical Services Group

The Tactical Services Group is a team of regular members who deploy for tactical or critical functions such as:

• Major incidents requiring a public order response
• Riots and unlawful assemblies
• Rapid deployment for natural or human caused emergencies
• Supplemental resources for major event policing and community safety patrols

Traffic Services

The priorities of Traffic Services Units East, Central, West and Labrador are improving road safety and reducing the number of fatal and serious collisions through education and strategic enforcement initiatives targeting high risk driving activities, including the following:

• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Lack of seatbelt use

Underwater Recovery Team

The Underwater Recovery Team provides assistance on a wide variety of police operations that require underwater investigation, including:

• Missing persons
• Evidence retrieval
• Search and recovery

Strengthening Relationships

• Commanding Officer's Indigenous Advisory Committee
• Engagement by the RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous and Community Policing Unit with Indigenous partners and communities
• Participation in restorative justice in collaboration with Indigenous partners and restorative justice committees throughout the west coast and central areas of the island, with plans for expansion and additional police officers trained in 2023
• Sweat Ceremony held at the Sweat Lodge located on the grounds of RCMP Headquarters, in Fall 2022, conducted by Qalipu First Nation Elder Kenny (Mutchie) Bennett and Mi'kmaw Knowledge Keeper, Arlene Blanchard-White
• Information video on the purpose and benefits of a Sweat Ceremony produced with interviews by Bennet and Blanchard-White
• Wood cutting by police officers for Elders in Natuashish
• Toys for the North, an initiative with the Canadian Forces that sees Christmas gifts transported to every Labrador community, ensuring every child receives a gift
• Eagle Feathers available in Detachments for swearing legal oaths, provided by the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network
• Community engagement through employee attendance at Powwows, the Sisters in Spirit Vigil and other community ceremonies and events

Employee Education and Awareness

• Employee participation in training and other activities on Indigenous culture and history, including National Indigenous Peoples Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sweat Ceremonies, Powwows, and the Moose Hide campaign, among others
• Restorative justice training for police officers in the central and west areas of the island, with further training planned for 2023
• Installation of Indigenous artwork by local Mi'kmaq artist Marcus Gosse at Bay St. George Detachment and RCMP Headquarters

Increased Representation of Indigenous persons in RCMP

• Continued promotion and operation of the RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Summer Student Program in partnership with the Qalipu and Miawpukek First Nations; the program began more than 20 years ago and has resulted in many of the students becoming RCMP police officers
• Participation in the national Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program, where Indigenous young adults ages 19 to 29 spend three weeks at the RCMP Academy in Regina, Saskatchewan to learn about the training required to become a police officer

RCMP-RNC Joint Force Operation (JFO) West

The RCMP-RNC Joint Force Operation West, comprised of dedicated police officers from the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC), was formed in March of 2022 to target drug trafficking and organized crime on the province's west coast.

In 2022, JFO West executed 14 search warrants at homes in the Deer Lake and Corner Brook areas. Drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash and weapons were seized. Nineteen individuals were arrested and 60 charges laid, the most common charge being possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance. Other charges included firearms and weapons offences, among others.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada

MADD Canada awarded RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador police officers in June 2022 for their dedication to reducing drivers on the road impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. They were inducted into the Nick Coates Impaired Driving Team, a MADD Canada program named for Nicholas Coates, who was killed by an impaired driver in 2013.

Project Badminton: Human Trafficking Charges Laid

A 30-month investigation led by RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador Federal Serious and Organized Crime culminated in human trafficking charges being laid for the first time by the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador in September 2022. Investigative partners included the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, JFO West and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, among others. The work of investigators also significantly disrupted a drug trafficking network funneling cocaine and other drugs from British Columbia and Ontario into Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly to the West Coast and Northern Peninsula.

Natuashish Fly-In Model

In 2022, the RCMP changed the way it provides policing services in Natuashish to better serve the community and to better support the wellness of our police officers. A rotational Fly-In Model was implemented, which has been successful in other remote parts of the country. Previously, 6 police officers were stationed at the Natuashish Detachment, with a 2-year posting commitment required; positions were hard to fill. To enhance community engagement, build trust and improve the consistency of a police presence, the new model has 11 police officer positions assigned to the detachment on a rotational basis, with 3- to 5-year posting commitments. All 11 positions have been filled. The model is proving to be better for the community and better for the wellness and work life balance of our police officers.

Hurricane Fiona

Hurricane Fiona struck the island's south west coast on the morning of September 24, 2022. The most impacted areas were the communities of Burnt Islands, Channel-Port aux Basques and Margaree, with heavy rainfall and high winds that caused tidal waves and catastrophic flooding. The impacts were devastating, with homes destroyed, roadways flooded and one life tragically lost. Additional RCMP police officers were deployed to assist the Channel-Port aux Basques Detachment, including officers from neighbouring detachment areas, Traffic Services Units and the RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador Tactical Services Group.

Police worked closely with many partners and were involved in the evacuation of homes and businesses, traffic control, and assistance to various search and rescue teams, along with response to priority calls for service. Over a 48-hour period, the RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador Strategic Communications & Media Relations Unit ensured communications were maintained with the public with response to 45 media inquiries from local, national and international media; 9 media interviews conducted; 2 news releases and multiple social media posts issued.

RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador is hiring

With over 150 specializations, a career with the RCMP is full of opportunity and adventure. We are looking for new recruits and experienced police officers to join us.

To make a difference in your community and your country, explore what we have to offer. Contact us by email at nlrecruiting@rcmp-grc.gc.ca