Menu

Saint John Police Force

Saint John Police HQ

Saint John police arrest two in drug trafficking investigation

,

Two people are facing drug trafficking charges after an arrest by the Saint John Police Force.

According to a release, the Street Crime Integrated Enforcement Unit arrested two people in a vehicle on April 8.

Police seized several items from the vehicle, including:

  • 15 grams of cocaine
  • $450 in cash
  • A cellphone
  • Digital scales
  • A pellet gun
  • Aerosol irritant

Police estimate the street value of the drugs to be about $1,500.

A 37-year-old woman was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

She was released and is scheduled to appear in provincial court on July 8.,

A 56-year-old man was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000 and breach of a court order.

He appeared in provincial court on April 9 and was remanded into custody.

A bail hearing is scheduled for April 13.

Chief Robert Bruce

Saint John police chief speaks out

,

The chief of the Saint John Police Force issued a statement Wednesday regarding allegations made against him by members of the force.

Robert Bruce said after becoming aware of complaints made by officers in July 2025, he fully co-operated with the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners, the New Brunswick Police Commission and the independent third-party investigator.

“The majority of the allegations were found to be vexatious, frivolous and not made in good faith and were dismissed,” Bruce said.

“For the few remaining allegations, I took full responsibility for any action the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners or the New Brunswick Police Commission deemed below the standard expected of the Saint John Police Chief through the informal resolution process under the Police Act.”

Bruce said he’s worked since becoming chief in 2021 to improve trust and confidence in the force.

“The workplace culture I inherited was not one that embraced change or innovation,” he said. “There has been much resistance, specifically from the Saint John Police Association executive, which seeks to maintain the status quo because it benefits them.”

Bruce said the association’s actions were disappointing and predictable, accusing them of using similar tactics and attempts to discredit previous chiefs, city employees and councillors.

“These attacks move us farther from the modern, responsive police force the residents of Saint John expect and deserve,” he said.

He also suggested the timing of the accusations was not a coincidence, as the police union and the City were in the middle of labour negotiations at the time.

Bruce said he would not make any other statements on the matter.

Saint John Police Force Headquarters_Alex Allan_Acadia Broadcasting

Saint John Police to conduct distracted driving campaign

, ,

The Saint John Police Force recently announced a distracted driving campaign from April 7 to 10.

The purpose of the campaign is to educate the public on the dangers of driving distracted while penalizing those who do.

Police are asking drivers to prevent these habits by adjusting seats, mirrors, climate controls, and navigation systems before driving. Passengers may also adjust things for a driver to avoid taking attention off the road. Electronic devices should only be used when pulled over to a safe location to ensure that eyes stay focused on the road and hands stay on the steering wheel.

Drivers guilty of distracted driving could face fines, a loss of demerit points, or potentially cause an accident.

In enforcing distracted driving legislation, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators and the Strategy to Reduce Impaired Driving define driver distraction as “the diversion of attention from driving, as a result of the driver focusing on a non-driving object, activity, event, or person. This diversion reduces awareness, decision-making, or performance, leading to increased risk of driver error, near-crashes or crashes. The diversion of attention is not attributable to a medical condition, alcohol/drug use and/or fatigue.”

saint-john-police-force-car

Assault charges laid against Saint John police officer

, , , ,

A Saint John police officer is facing assault charges following an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team

In a press release issued Thursday morning, the Saint John Police Force said the officer has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

In July 10, the Saint John police contacted the SiRT regarding the alleged force used by one of their officers during an arrest that took place on July 5.

According to the release, officers were responding to a motor vehicle collision on the Harbour Bridge when one of the vehicles involved fled the scene. A brief pursuit followed, ending in the Main Street North area.

The adult male driver was taken into custody, with several officers involved in the arrest. The Saint John police said the man sustained injuries and was taken to hospital afterward.

In a separate release issued Thursday, SiRT said it initially determined in August that the case did not meet its mandate after receiving additional information from police.

However, in early November, the New Brunswick Public Prosecution Services independently referred the incident to SiRT due to concerns about the officer’s alleged use of force. SiRT then launched a formal investigation.

Saint John police said the officer has since been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. A Police Act investigation will follow once the court process concludes.

The officer is scheduled to appear in Saint John provincial court on June 15, according to SiRT.

saint-john-police-force-car

65 tickets issued in Saint John Aggressive Driving Campaign

, ,

A Saint John Police Force aggressive driving campaign held from March 16 to March 20 yielded positive results.

RELATED: Saint John Police Force begins Aggressive Driving Campaign

Officers issued 65 traffic violations, gave 25 warnings, and towed three vehicles.

In a news release, the Saint John Police stated they will continue to conduct regular, targeted traffic enforcement in the city to enhance road safety and educate motorists, to reduce serious injuries and fatal collisions.

The goal of the campaign was to enhance road safety and reduce aggressive driving habits in the community, including speeding, unsafe lane changes, disobeying posted signage or traffic control devices, and distracted driving.

Peter Johnston UAL

Saint John Police looking for man wanted on warrant

,

Police in Saint John are asking for the public’s help to find a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.

A warrant for Peter Johnston, 33, was issued Thursday for breaching the conditions of his statutory release.

According to the Saint John Police Force, Johnston failed to show at the Parrtown Community Correctional Centre in Saint John.

Johnston is described as 5-6, 170 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

He has tattoos on his right arm of multiple skulls, on his inner right forearm he has “my brothers,” on his upper left arm he has the outline of a fox head and “506,” and on his left inner forearm he has “kw lost but never forgotten.”

No clothing description was provided.

Johnston is serving a federal sentence of four years, seven months and 21 days for the following charges:

  • Flight from a peace officer
  • Dangerous operation of a conveyance
  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
  • Possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized
  • Careless use/storage of a firearm
  • Possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order
  • Unauthorized possession of a firearm/prohibited or restricted weapon in a motor vehicle
  • An offence under New Brunswick’s Motor Vehicle Act

Police have warned the public to not approach Johnston.

Anyone who sees him or has information on his whereabouts should contact the Saint John Police at 506-648-3333 or New Brunswick Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Tips can also be submitted online at Crime Stoppers.

a man driving a car at night in the dark

Saint John Police Force begins Aggressive Driving Campaign

, , , , ,

The campaign will be conducted between March 16 and March 20, 2026, and is meant to deter and hold accountable aggressive driving behaviours.

The city’s Quick Reaction Team and Traffic Management Officers will increase efforts targeting aggressive driving behaviours that endanger others, such as unsafe lane changes, speeding, tailgating, distracted driving, and disobeying posted traffic signs or control devices

The penalties for dangerous driving in New Brunswick are costly. Speeding 50-80 kilometres over the posted speed limit will result in a $500 fine, five demerit points, and a vehicle impound of 7 days. Anything past 80 kilometres over the posted speed limit will double the fine, add a demerit point, and the vehicle will be impounded for 30 days.

The Saint John Police Force wants to remind drivers to follow the speed limit, be patient and minimize lane changes, use turn signals, follow posted signage, avoid distracted driving, follow at a distance, slow down in construction zones, and allow other drivers to merge or change lanes.

For more details, visit the Saint John Police Force website.

Police lights by night

UPD: Saint John man facing murder charge after uptown stabbing

,

A 36-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder after a stabbing in uptown Saint John Monday night.

Saint John Police were called to the area of Wellington Row just before 8 p.m. after reports of a stabbing.

According to police, when officers arrived they found an unconscious 46-year-old male and a conscious 44-year-old male.

Both had sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

The 46-year-old was pronounced dead.

The 44-year-old man remains in hospital in serious condition.

The suspect was still on the scene with minor injuries when police arrived.

He was immediately arrested.

The suspect appeared in Saint John provincial court Tuesday afternoon to face the charges.

He was remanded into custody and will next appear in court on March 24 at 1:30 p.m.

Staff Sgt. Sarah Hobbs said it’s too early in the investigation to know if the three men were known to each other.

School crossing warning sign with children silhouettes

Police step up patrols with new school zone safety plan

,

Saint John police are putting a new focus on school zone safety as students return to classrooms across the city.

The police service has launched a school zone safety program to support the safe arrival of students who walk, cycle or are driven to school.

Officers will increase patrols and monitor school zones to ensure drivers follow traffic laws and to improve public safety.

Police point to national data that highlights ongoing risks around schools.

A 2019 poll from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) found nearly one quarter of drivers reported seeing a near miss or collision in a school zone, and more than half of those incidents involved a child.

CAA also reported that nearly half of Canadians said they had witnessed a distracted driver in a school zone.

Saint John police is reminding motorists to slow down in residential areas, school zones and playgrounds.

Drivers are also being asked to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, follow the directions of crossing guards, and use designated drop‑off areas so children can exit vehicles away from traffic.

“Traffic safety is especially important in school zones because children are more vulnerable and less predictable than adults, requiring more vigilance by drivers,” Chief Robert Bruce said in the release.

“Keeping our children safe in school zones is not an option, it is mandatory.”

Anyone who sees suspicious activity in a school zone can contact the Saint John police at 506‑648‑3333.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by phone, online or through the P3 Tips app.

person riding vehicle during daytime

Saint John police launch 4‑day seat belt campaign

Saint John police are launching a four‑day seat belt campaign and want to draw attention to the risks that come with not buckling up.

The campaign runs from Tuesday to Friday and includes both education and enforcement of provincial seat belt laws.

More than 40 per cent of people who die in collisions in the province are not wearing a seat belt, according to the Government of New Brunswick.

The province also stated that many of those deaths could have been prevented if seat belts had been used.

Officers are sharing reminders on how to wear a seat belt properly.

Police note that belts should not be twisted or damaged and that buckles and retractors should move smoothly.

The province advises positioning the lap belt low over the hips and the shoulder belt across the chest, and warns against placing the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back.

Drivers are responsible for making sure passengers under 16 are secured in the correct child restraint for their age, weight and height.

Police encourage parents and caregivers to check car seats and booster seats regularly and replace them when needed.

Saint John police added that anyone who needs help installing a car seat can contact the service for assistance at 506-648-3333.

Load More