Police mental health among top priorities for new RNC Chief Pat Roche

The newest leader of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says he wants to prioritize the mental wellness of the police force's members in his time as chief.

Patrick Roche spoke briefly to reporters in St. John's on Tuesday, hours after the Justice Department announced his appointmentas chief.

"Policing today is very, very different than when I started in 1985. The type of calls for service that we respond to, the dangers involved with front-line police work and police work in general, is incredible," Roche said.

"We have to be preventive in our treatment of mental health issues for our membership. And how do we do that? We need to work with professionals who are experts in that area to guide us."

Roche also spoke with concern about crime rates across the province, and said he planned to pay special attention to how the force deals with mental health calls.

"Weneed to have training for our membership [on] how to recognize and interact with persons who are suffering mental health issues, and the protection of our members for their mental well-being," he said.

Justice Minister John Hogan said the province's public service commission searched the country for a successful applicant, but selected Roche after determining he was "clearly the best candidate" to take on the position in a permanent role.

Sexual misconduct claims taken 'very seriously'

Roche, a former superintendent in Corner Brook and 36-year veteran of the force, emerged from retirement to take over as interim chief in August after Joe Boland's departure.

His appointment comes amid significant challenges for the force, which has found itself embroiled in allegations of widespread sexual assault and harassment since last summer, when lawyer Lynn Moore disclosed that over a dozen women had approached her with claims that police officers had solicited sex from them or assaulted them while on duty.

Roche cut the media conference short on Tuesday, but briefly returned to address a question about an ongoing sexual misconduct investigation within the ranks.

"I take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously," Roche said."I worked in the area of child sex abuse, physical assault and adult sexual assault.I know how serious [they are]and how much damagethose incidents can cause a person. I do not take them lightly."

He emphasized his background in major-crimes investigations and experience preparing cases for prosecution.

"I have a knowledge as to how these need to be dealt with," he said. "We will move forward."

He told CBC News he planned to address issues facing the force in media appearances at a later date.

Roche's late father, Richard Roche, served as chief of the RNC from 1980 until his retirement in 1984.

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