St. John’s, N.L. (November 27, 2024) – Today, Helen Conway Ottenheimer, Progressive Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice and MHA for Harbour Main, spoke out about new numbers that confirm the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) is operating with a historically low number of officers.

Conway Ottenheimer highlighted that RNC Annual Reports show a peak of 415 officers in 2020, which has since dropped to 392, as revealed in a recent Access to Information request. This decline comes as the provincial government has significantly expanded the RNC’s jurisdiction on the West Coast, further straining resources.

“The numbers don’t lie. The RNC is down 23 officers in just four years, and we’re hearing that retirements and resignations continue to outpace recruitment efforts. It’s a revolving door—recruits coming in the front door aren’t keeping up with the numbers leaving out the back,” said Conway Ottenheimer. “Crime is rising, and parents and residents I speak with repeatedly tell me they feel the impact of reduced police visibility.”

Conway Ottenheimer also pointed to the City of Mount Pearl as the latest municipality to voice concerns about community safety, following a violent assault in the area last Friday.

“Families with young children and seniors are particularly worried. Many in my district are shaken by these recent violent attacks,” added Conway Ottenheimer. “The Liberal government needs to stop making announcements and instead focus on sustainable, effective policing solutions.”

“Unfortunately, there has been a complete lack of political leadership from the Liberals on this issue. It’s time for a government that will take public safety seriously and develop a real plan to properly resource the RNC and help make our communities safer.”