20 Questions: Const. Shane McClafferty takes the lead at the RNCA

“I always felt that there was the opportunity to get involved and help to make the workplace better and ultimately to provide a better police service and safer communities,” Const. Shane McClafferty said.

That belief has shaped McClafferty’s involvement with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association (RNCA), where he has progressed from representing his platoon to becoming the association’s newly-acclaimed president for a three-year term.

“I love the association work,” he said. “I love representing the members.”

McClafferty has lived in Newfoundland and Labrador for 16 years. His wife is from the province, and they have two young children.

Alongside his work representing police officers, he continues to serve with the RNC’s Major Crime Unit, investigating serious offences.

McClafferty joined the RNC in 2015 after completing his police training the previous year.

He spent five years in operational patrol services, responding to calls, patrolling communities and enforcing traffic laws.

“I absolutely love patrol,” he said. “Patrol is excellent, the backbone of any police service.”

He later moved into strategic planning and research, drawing on his academic background and master’s degree, before returning to patrol and spending time in the Weapons and Drugs Enforcement Unit.

He now works in the Major Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Division, investigating serious offences, including crimes against persons and homicides.

His involvement with the RNCA developed alongside his policing career.

He began as a shift director, representing members of his platoon and bringing their concerns to the association’s executive and management, then became second vice-president before taking on the presidency.

When the previous president, Staff-Sgt. Mike Summers, reached the end of his term, colleagues encouraged McClafferty to put his name forward.

“I felt that I was comfortable and I felt like it was time to put my name forward,” he said.

“It’s a huge honour for me to be acclaimed by the membership. I have so much respect for the membership and the work that our members do.”

For McClafferty, supporting officers is about more than their working conditions.

He believes the strength of the association affects the police service as a whole and, ultimately, the communities it serves.

“If we have a strong RNCA, we’ll have a strong RNC,” he said.

“And if we have a strong RNC, it means safer communities.”

McClafferty takes on the presidency as the association raises concerns about staffing, retention and the increasingly complex demands placed on officers.

The RNC has surpassed 90,000 calls for service in a year for the first time, while the RNCA says 35 members have resigned over the past three years.

McClafferty believes the force needs more officers to keep pace with demand.

He said the association has been advocating for staffing levels to reach the national police-to-population ratio, which would allow the RNC to strengthen units and give members more time for training, annual leave and their physical and mental health.

He estimated the force could need an additional 50 to 60 officers to close the gap, although the figure fluctuates.

The issue is not simply the number of calls officers answer, he said, but the time and resources required to deal with them properly.

Officers must complete regular training and maintain professional qualifications while continuing to respond to calls and investigate offences.

More staff would help the force balance those responsibilities, he said, and allow for more proactive policing rather than moving from one call to the next.

McClafferty also wants the public to better understand what officers are being asked to deal with, particularly when social problems such as homelessness, addiction and mental-health challenges bring people into contact with police.

“Once society fails a member of the public, a lot of times, it’s our members who are left holding the bag at the end of the day,” he said.

“We’re not counsellors, we’re not mental-health counselors, and we’re not addiction counsellors. We’re police officers.”

Officers, he added, are not equipped to solve those wider problems alone.

Instead, he wants to see closer collaboration between government departments and services, including health and justice.

He pointed to the RNC’s mobile crisis response team, which pairs a police officer with a mental-health nurse when responding to mental-health calls, as an example of how working together can benefit both officers and the public.

While acknowledging the accountability that comes with policing, McClafferty said he believes the public should also recognize the work officers do, much of which never makes the news.

“There’s some really good work being done,” he said. “I would suggest 95 per cent goes unheard of.”

He pointed to two officers who were recently recognized by the Canadian Police Association for their work on a major sexual-assault investigation as an example of the efforts taking place behind the scenes.

“We need to get out and educate the public,” he said, adding that people do not always understand the work police officers do or the pressures they face.

He also wants members to have a clearer picture of the association’s plans.

A strategic plan has been developed and is expected to be released soon.

With collective bargaining approaching, retaining experienced officers is another priority.

McClafferty said negotiating an attractive contract will be important to keeping skilled officers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Becoming president is “a huge honour,” McClafferty said, adding, “I don’t take that lightly.”

“Anyone who knows me within the RNC knows I’m a dog for work,” he said, “and I’ll continue to work hard for the membership.”

Q. What is your full name?

A. Shane Anthony McClafferty

Q. Where and when were you born, and where do you live today?

A. Dublin, Ireland, and then Newfoundland and Labrador became home 16 years ago.

Q. What is one thing you would like people to know about you?

A. I’ve always liked to look for win-wins. I’m hoping this will serve me well as president of the RNCA. I like to be reasonable and compromise when it is necessary. I believe that’s how we collaborate and move everyone forward. A one-sided approach rarely works, and if it does, it won’t last.

Q. Is there something people might assume about you that isn’t quite true?

A. I’m not a hard-lined union/association. I like to see everyone’s position and then make decisions. Obviously, if it’s a clear-cut issue, I’ll stand my ground, but I’m not blindly one-sided. I like to think I have good critical analysis. We have a good relationship with management and the provincial government. I plan to build on that while also advocating strongly for RNCA members. The public will always come first, but I believe we must have a strong RNCA to do that.

Q. What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

A. Unfortunately, policing means we must deal with hard things regularly. Sudden deaths and death notifications are particularly difficult. This weighs on our members, and every officer has one (or several) they will never forget.

Q. What is one experience that changed your life?

A. The birth of my children, for sure. It changed my priorities and perspectives. It also taught me to be grateful for what we have.

Q. What is your greatest indulgence?

A. Candy/chocolate. Living up to the police stereotype, I like sweets! I’m getting to the age, though, where I can’t out-train my diet, so I’ve got to watch what I eat.

Q. What is your favourite book right now?

A. I recently read the book Colonel Paddy: The Man Who Dared, by Patrick Marrinan. It’s the story of Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne, one of the founders of the SAS during the Second World War. He was a very courageous and daring leader.

Q. What is your favourite movie?

A. I always enjoy watching Forrest Gump. It has a bit of everything, and the soundtrack is great!

Q. What music do you like to listen to?

A. Literally anything. My playlist is very random.

Q. How do you like to relax?

A. Spend time with my family and exercise. Policing and association work can be stressful. It’s important our members take the time to decompress; otherwise, issues may start to appear. Modern policing has recognized this with many studies, and I encourage all members to look after themselves.

Q. What is something you could talk about for hours?

A. Policing and police associations. My family and colleagues know it doesn’t take much to get me into a debate on our profession. I’m passionate about it, and I think it’s so important we tell our stories and explain policing. There are so many misconceptions. RNCA members are doing excellent work every day, but as members, it’s just our norm.

Q. What is your greatest fear?

A. One of our members getting seriously hurt or worse. Firearms offences are on the rise, and our members now deal with a different type of criminal with little regard for anyone’s safety. 2026 has been a terrible year for police officers in Canada, with five officers being killed so far. 2023 has been the worst in recent history, with eight deaths.

Q. What is your greatest joy?

A. Spending time with my family at the cabin and when I get back to Ireland to visit friends and family.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

A. I’m not really a material guy and more treasure relationships and friends. So, I treasure my time with my children, wife, family and friends.

Q. What is the best advice you have ever received from a parent or mentor?

A. “A gentleman uses the butter knife even when dining alone.” Meaning, always do the right thing even when there is no one around. This has served me well so far in my profession. Integrity is everything.

Q. What would you say is your best quality, and what would you say is your worst?

A. Best quality — honesty/work ethic. Worst quality — grumpy in the mornings!

Q. Where is your favourite place in the world?

A. Anywhere by the ocean.

Q. What is one thing you couldn’t live without?

A. My wife would say my wife, which is true. She is the backbone of our family and runs a tight ship! Tangibly, it would be coffee!

Q. Which three people would you invite to your dream dinner party?

A. Michael Collins, Irish patriot and leader, he would be very interesting to speak with. Robin Williams, because he was hilarious and made me laugh out loud. Finally, John F. Kennedy, because he was president during interesting times.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity.