
Board Director Jake Foran is a former police officer of about 16 years and says it’s no secret that policing and public safety have been under funded over the years.
With voters in this province heading to select a new Premier next week, the National Police Federation is praising platforms. Board Director Jake Foran is a former police officer of about 16 years and says it’s no secret that policing and public safety have been under funded over the years. He says the NPF is pleased to hear commitments to fund 25 more RCMP officers. Foran says public opinion research conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights this past August shows nearly 4 in 5 Newfoundlanders have a favourable view of the RCMP and nearly two-thirds want to see a clear and transparent provincial policing plan ahead of the election. There is also strong support for equitable funding between the RCMP and the RNC.
Over the years and day by day, Foran says the challenges of being a police officer are growing. In recent years, service calls in RCMP-served areas rose by 12%, and mental health-related calls surged by 70%. At the same time, the RCMP’s officer-to-resident ratio has declined, and its budget increased by just 15%, compared to a 22% increase for the RNC.
Members of the RCMP are responsible for policing over 55% of the population across 80% of Newfoundland and Labrador’s landmass, often in rural and remote communities.