The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice:

RNC Promotes First Female to Sergeant in Labrador City

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House to recognize the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s promotion of Stephanie Motty to the rank of sergeant. On December 7, 2012, Sergeant Motty became the first woman to be appointed to the position of sergeant at the RNC’s Labrador City detachment.

I am very pleased to congratulate Sergeant Motty on her promotion to the rank of sergeant. Not only does it speak to the level of commitment that she has shown to her profession, it is also a significant milestone for the RNC detachment in Labrador City to have its first female sergeant.

As we are all aware, we have many female police officers in various roles within our communities. They are an important part of the overall operations of the RNC and play a leadership role in many specific areas of policing. As of December 1, 2012, approximately 25 per cent of RNC officers were female, and this government is committed to ensuring that women are represented in policing and justice in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since the RNC recruiting program started, almost 40 per cent of officers recruited have been female, making the RNC one of the national leaders in the recruitment of women.

Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Motty is no stranger to the hard work and dedication that comes with working with the RNC. Last year, she received the Excellence in Performance Award at the Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement’s 19th annual training conference. This honour is awarded to a female officer who distinguishes herself through superior attention to duty or outstanding investigative efforts.

Having held positions in various areas of the RNC for more than 10 years, Sergeant Motty has spent time as a patrol officer and also as a member of the Criminal Investigative Division. With the Criminal Investigative Division, she divided her time as a member of the Child Assault and Sexual Assault Unit and the Major Crime Unit. She is considered to be an adept and highly competent investigator and has excelled in many complex investigations.

On December 7, a ceremony was held to formally promote Stephanie Motty to the position of sergeant. I would like to thank Sergeant Motty for her contributions to this province’s police services and to wish her every success in her new role.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
 

2012 12 18                         1:45 p.m.