Photo: 1949-2010 A Modern Constabulary panel

Photographer: Barry Swackhamer
Taken: June 22, 2014
Caption: 1949-2010 A Modern Constabulary panel
Additional Description: Captions: (left side) It was under the leadership of Chief of Police John R. Browne that, in 1979, Queen Elizabeth II conferred upon the Newfoundland Constabulary the right to use the prefix “Royal.” The citation recognized the Constabulary’s long and distinguished service to Newfoundland and Labrador, and to the Crown. There are only two police organizations in Canada who carry the prefix “Royal” - the RNC and RCMP.; The RNC shoulder patch recognizes the RNC’s heritage: The Pitcher Plant represents Newfoundland; a Spruce twig represents Labrador; and Irish harp represents the long connection with the Irish policing system.; The Motorcycle Unit, introduced in the 1940s, comprised a number of motorcycles especially designed for police work. The unit soon became one of the RNC’s more valuable and effective tools, playing an integral role in summertime ground patrol and traffic enforcement. The motorcycles show in the above image are obviously modern vehicles for their time and equipped with the latest features.; Inspector General John McCowen looked stately in his uniform on horseback. Policemen on horse were a common sight in St. John’s from their introduction to the force in 1873. The unit grew to ten horses but in 1894 was incorporated with the Fire Brigade. By 1922 the Mounted Unit re-integrated with the RNC and remained so until 1951. In recognition of superiority for crowd control and advantages for public relations, a permanent Mounted Unit was re-established in 2003. In 2010 there were four horses, all of the Percheron breed which stands almost ten feet tall; Vince, Townshend, Fraize, and Dobbin.; (center, top) The members of the Technical Rescue Unit (TRU) underwent training so that specialized skills were available when needed for circumstances such as requiring rescue from steep slopes or cliffs.; The Canine Unit, established in the 1980s, added to the resources available for such needs as tracking missing persons, and searching for lost children. German Shepherd, ‘Sam’, was the first recruit for the unit and proved his worth.; (right side) In an international ceremony, in 2005, the RNC and the Republic of Ireland’s Garde Siachana na hEirann exchanged colours in recognition of their historic policing links.; A new Service Patch was designed in 2002, reflecting the RNC’s Irish heritage in a wreath of shamrocks, and the words “Blianta Seibhise”, Gaelic for “Years of Service”.; The RNC Historical Society was formed in 1987 and in the ensuing years established the RNC Museum in the foyer of the Fort Townshend Headquarters.
Submitted: November 25, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p293199
File Size: 3.408 Megabytes

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