Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
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The roots of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) date back to 1729, with the appointment of the first police constables, making it the oldest police force in North America. In the 19th century, the RNC was modeled after the Royal Irish Constabulary with the secondment in 1844 of Timothy Mitchell of the Royal Irish Constabulary to be Inspector General. Mitchell served as inspector and superintendent of police until 1871, when the Newfoundland Constabulary was reorganized with a new Police Act.
Other officers recruited from the Royal Irish Constabulary to take command of the Newfoundland force included Thomas J. Foley who served from 1871 to 1873, Paul Carty, who headed the RNC from 1873-1895, and John Roche McGowen, who served as constabulary inspector general from 1895-1908.
The RNC is the provincial police force of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador and serves alongside the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is contracted by the provincial government to provide provincial and community policing services.
On May 3, 2005, the RNC made a formal exchange of colours with Garda Síochána to mark the historic links between the two forces.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary serves mainly major metropolitan areas while the RCMP serves smaller and remote rural areas. The RNC currently polices the following areas:
- North East Avalon (St. John's, Mount Pearl, and surrounding communities)
- Corner Brook
- Labrador West (Labrador City, Wabush, Churchill Falls, and the surrounding area)
See also
External link
- Royal Newfoundland Constabulary official website (http://www.gov.nf.ca/rnc/default.htm)