Bullying, harassment thrive at RCMP, watchdog says changes are needed

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – The RCMP watchdog says bullying and harassment remain serious problems within the national police force, and only major changes to the way it is run will make any difference.

In a report released today, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP says the force lacks both the will and the capacity to address the challenges that afflict its workplaces.

“There are a number of changes that need to take place in order to effect systemic, long-term, sustained change across the organization. In particular, there needs to be a change in the governance structure of the RCMP,” says Emma Phillips, legal counsel for the CRCC. “We found there is a dysfunctional organizational culture and members complain, in particular, about a range of every day workplace problems… you can’t really dis-entangle workplace harassment from the broader organizational structure.”

The commission urges the federal government to usher in civilian governance or oversight for the paramilitary-style police force. “To be clear, the idea is to introduce greater public accountability through civilian oversight of the administration of the RCMP, while the RCMP would maintain primary responsibility for the operations,” explains Phillips.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale ordered the commission report to see if the RCMP had properly acted on commission recommendations made back in 2013.

The Mounties introduced new harassment policies and processes in 2014 aimed at promptly dealing with workplace conflict before it escalates.

The latest report, however, says the vast majority of complaints under the new policies involve allegations that managers abused their authority.

Last fall, the RCMP’s top cop publicly apologized and the force settled historic claims from hundreds of current and former female officers and employees who said they had been bullied, discriminated against and sexually harassed while on the job. Some of those allegations dated back to September of 1974.

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