RNC Chief Patrick Roche says any suggestion that recent shelter-in-place orders may be a result of a lack of resources, technology or training is “completely inaccurate.”

Chief Roche was responding to commentary from Memorial University sociology professor Dr. Adrienne Peters who suggested that shelter-in-place orders could be a sign of a lack of police resources, technology, or insufficient training.

Chief Roche calls that assessment inaccurate, and “irresponsible.”

He says it’s indicative of a lack of understanding of Critical Incident Response and the increase in dangerous crime in the province.

Roche says that type of narrative jeopardizes public safety and affects public confidence in policing. He says there is no doubt that drug trafficking and organized crime pose threats to the community and the province, and he is “incredibly proud” of the nearly 400 RNC officers who show up every day risking harm to themselves in exchange for public safety.