The History of the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was founded in 1873. It was first known as the North West Mounted Police and it was modelled after the Royal Irish Constabulary. The first Newfoundlander to join was Constable Earnest W. Peyton in 1888. He was the son of a prominent family from Twillingate and was believed to be 21 at the time.

It was March 22, 1949, some 76 years after its inception, that the RCMP arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador. Eight Mounties and one officer arrived in Newfoundland and opened a Divisional Headquarters on Kenna’s Hill in St. John’s. They were posted there to enforce federal law. The RCMP was officially recognized a year later on August 1, 1950 with an agreement between RCMP Deputy Commissioner Gray and the Attorney General for the province, the Honourable L. R. Curtis. In 2010, the RCMP will celebrate 60 years of policing in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The RCMP took over the duties of the former Newfoundland Rangers and also members of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary serving outside St. John’s. At the time, 55 Newfoundland Rangers and 22 Constabulary members were accepted into the RCMP. The Force was given the responsibility of policing all of Newfoundland and Labrador with the exception of the capital city. Because of the growth in the establishment of the RCMP, in 1954 the force opened up sub-division headquarters in Corner Brook and St. John’s. As the force continued to expand, sub-divisions were then added in Gander and Labrador.

Times changed, and the RCMP was quick to change with them. In1974, women were able to join the RCMP for the first time. Three of the first group of women accepted into the force were Newfoundlanders. Two of them recently retired in the province.

Today, The RCMP has 769 employees in “B” Division. That equates to 544 regular members (police officers), 66 civilian members and 159 public service employees. It is interesting to note that 69% of RCMP police officers serving in this province were born here. Out of those who were not born here, 55 have over 10 years service in this province. Of the 55, 31 of them have over 20 years service and 10 have over 30 years service.

The RCMP has 11 districts, 44 detachments and 11 storefront, satellite offices and patrol cabins in Newfoundland and Labrador. The RCMP polices 60% of the population and 82% of the geographical area of the province. Since 2000, the RCMP has sent 436 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to their world famous Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The RCMP has had two members killed in this province. Cst. Terry Hoey was 21 years old when he was serving in Botwood, November 6, 1958. Cst. Hoey, along with two other RCMP members, responded to a domestic dispute between the owner of a local restaurant and his son. After getting no response from inside the living quarters of the restaurant and fearing for the son’s life, the three members entered a side window and knocked on the living room door. They received no answer and found the door had been heavily barricaded. They called out to the owner and asked him to open the door. Immediately a shotgun blast ripped through the wood of the closed door striking Cst. Hoey in the chest. He died at the scene. A great part of his family’s sorrow was in knowing that Terry had wanted to be a policeman all his life and that wish had led him to his death.

Cst Robert Amey was 24 years old when he was killed December 17, 1964 in Whitbourne. Four men broke out of Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s. They stole a car and headed west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Near Whitbourne, they ran through an RCMP roadblock that had been set up by Csts. David Keith and Robert Amey. A chase ensued, and the four fugitives soon abandoned their car and ran for cover. They were discovered hiding in Whitbourne. Even though they were cornered, they refused to surrender. Amey went to the car radio and called for help. When Amey was in the cruiser, the four rushed Cst. Keith and after beating him severely, took away his service revolver. When Amey came running back, he could see that Keith was down and one of the fugitives was armed. Amey attempted to hold the prisoners at gun point but the fugitive fired three shots, one of which hit Amey in the chest, killing him instantly. Using Amey’s gun, Cst. Keith was able to arrest the all four fugitives.

Policing has changed a lot since1950. Today, the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador uses leading-edge technology and has learned to adapt to meet the changing needs of our times.

Among the RCMP’s policing accomplishments in Newfoundland and Labrador is the establishment of: Click here