William E. Roche was born Branch, St. Mary’s Bay, Newfoundland, in 1938. He began his career in the Royal Canadian Navy in the Weapons Underwater Department. He then went to work at construction and as a heavy equipment operator until he began his career with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as a Federal Fishery Officer, Conservation and Protection, in 1971. In addition to his Fishery Officer duties, he became an Auxiliary Member of the Royal Canadian Mount Police serving between 1975 and 1981. He also served as Chief of Branch Volunteer Fire Department for fifteen years during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1992, Billy was presented with the Gunter Behr Award as Officer of the Year, Conservation and Protection. He retired in May 1995.