Just one day into his new post as Chief of the Niagara Regional Police, Jeff McGuire has addressed a photo controversy that's hit the force.

A picture of an NRP officer asleep in a cruiser is making the rounds locally after it was posted online by a group calling itself People Unite Against Police Brutality.

It's unclear when the photo was taken or who took it but shows a female officer asleep behind the wheel of her unlocked cruiser, head tilted back, mouth open, arms folded on her lap.

Chief McGuire tells 610 CKTB he needs to understand the circumstances, when, where and what it was about.

He says there may be some mitigating circumstances that need to be taken into account with its employees.

McGuire adds the number one concern is the safety of both the public and his officers but admits, no matter what the outcome, clearly there is a safety issue involved.

McGuire will officially be sworn in as Chief on Friday.