(CBC News) – RCMP Commissioner William Elliott acknowledges his relationship with a senior Mountie critical of his management style is “strained” but has denied this week’s changes to the force’s executive team is his way of “clearing house.”
In an interview Friday on CBC’s Power & Politics with Evan Solomon, Elliott said there has been no change to the status of Raf Souccar, deputy commissioner for federal policing, whom sources have said has been asked to leave the force.
But Elliott added the force will make “further announcements in the near future with respect to further changes.”
“I think it’s fair to say that our relationship is strained, but we are working to move forward,” Elliott said of Souccar.
Souccar was one of several senior RCMP officers who complained about Elliott to high-level federal government officials on two occasions in July. They accused Elliott, who became the first civilian to head the Mounties in July 2007, of being verbally abusive, closed-minded, arrogant and insulting.
‘I’m a pretty extreme guy’
Elliott acknowledged his passion for his work and his desire to reform the force has got the better of him on occasion, but denied he has an anger management problem.
“Well, I guess it’s fair to say that — and I think this has been said by others — I’m a pretty extreme guy,” he told the CBC’s Solomon.
“When things don’t go well, I get frustrated, and sometimes I express that frustration in ways that aren’t constructive.”
An independent “workplace assessment” of the fractious RCMP also found that the tepid pace of reform inside the police force frustrated some Mounties.
Elliott said the addition of two deputy commissioners for east and west regions and the elimination of four other regional positions will “streamline” communications between the senior executive team in Ottawa and commands in the field, while also “reinforcing the autonomy and authority” of commanding officers.
The deputy commissioner positions will be in Halifax and Vancouver, respectively. Existing deputies Gary Bass and Steve Graham will assume the western and eastern roles, respectively.
Your lips to God’s ear boomer. I cant believe you got someone disagreeing with your comment there.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The head line reads: RCMP boss denies ‘clearing house’ is it true, possibly, but also take into consideration that the senior membership in Ottawa are closer to the end of their careers and not at the beginning. Most have 30 years plus. Knowing that members are able to retire after 25 years penalty free before going to pensions, it’s not surprising to see D/Comm and A/Comm retiring! However, quoting lines like: But Elliott added the force will make “further announcements in the near future with respect to further changes.” Is he clearing house? He’s attempting to show control over the force using political tactics that don’t work with police officers. Making blank statements does not make you a better leader, in fact shows the men and women under your command the exact opposite. Most officers are well educated and see through the political BS. I would promote to the leader of the RCMP, you are no longer a politician working for the “Conservatives”. You’re now working for the RCMP. Start there and things might improve. Members are taught to stayed politically natural, and have played by these rules for over 130 years. Take a lesson from them; it won’t cost the force $40,000. At the beginning of Elliot’s term, I supported the change, hopping that it would be good for the force, right or wrong? Now out of the force for the last 3 years, nothing has changed except the media is having a field day at the forces expense.
On that note, I also hope that the senior members leaving the force don’t speak out publicly after retirement. You’ve said what was required of you to say; by going public further, will only do the men and women of the force more harm.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Good point about political neutrality Boomer. But, when you have government hacks in the top job, and unelected politicians such as Mr. Kenny running around pushing his PC agenda and social engineering on the organization, it makes it tough for anyone who really cares to be neutral and stay out of the mix. It makes many just down right angry. One more example of how the workplace is getting poisoned…
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“No offence here, but I don’t know why you seem to be so upset, frustrated and negative here DT towards the leaders of the force. I thought the RCMP, as a whole, did everything right? ” sayeth RMR
I am none of the above. There have been issues identified in 3 studies concerning the RCMP to say nothing of acute observations. The response from the government is not satisfactory in my view. The civilian they have put in charge over 3 years ago has little in the way of progress to show us. The answer to his suspect managerial skills is to include another bureaucrat from within the government to help him. As you should know, the government does not have a great track record for efficient running of anything. I merely point out the shortcomings of the “new Leader”. This does not disparage the senior management of the RCMP, rather it highlights the ineptness of having the RCMP as part of the government. The RCMP does not do everything right. Where did you get that notion?
According to RMR: “The employment of the Commissioner a position held in trust and high esteem for 130 years and then the Deputy Commissioner’s position came to an end which later was decided to be replaced by a political appointment and not someone from the inside, Commissioner W. Elliot and it was about time too.”
I am not sure if you really understand what is going on here. The Commissioner of the RCMP historically was not part of the government, however, it is now a position within the government of Deputy Minister. No Deputy of the RCMP was replaced by Elliot unless you mean the Deputy Minister, or Commissioner which are one and the same office.
You say: “So now we have a different leader, we don’t need to fear police anymore and we don’t hear of so many deaths happening here in Canada at, or in the hands of police officers and guards, which either way you want to look at, is great news for all concerned.”
If you are suggesting that because Elliot is now in charge of the RCMP, there will be no more deaths at the hands of the RCMP, your tinfoil hat needs some fine tuning. Give me one example of how the new Commissioner has instituted change beneficial to the working officers in the RCMP, other than new pants. The changes in the use of force guidelines were forged from the Braidwood inquiry and other information, so Elliot really did not come up with that one himself. He has the benefit of the noted 3 studies, a large senior staff, the ear of the rank and file to assist him in making the necessary changes. and what has he done? Harassment procedures are still fuzzy, offices are still undermanned, remote area offices still have clean water issues, numerous working offices have major structural and space issues, grievance procedures are still archaic, there is no blueprint for officers representation (other than copying the PSAC), pay levels are far behind other departments, hiring quotas are a national joke, higher training standards remain unaddressed, discipline sections of the RCMP Act remain unchanged, and I could go on. In the mean time, the officers keep on doing their job despite the soap opera in Ottawa plodding along, and the needless bashing of some quarters of the public.
I am still curious as to where you got your ‘police certificate’ you referenced earlier.
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Just another political hack from another part of the government moved to another place to do another job with questionable managerial skills and competence. Regardless of the upper echelons, leading by example for this position is paramount. His disdain for the “little guy” in his cross country trips shows, and therefore other than sycophantic types fawning support, his style does not engender trust, optimism and desire to follow through with meaningful change.
It is no doubt a bit heady to have control of such a large and prestigious organization with the ability to give marching orders, however, without grassroots buy in, nothing will change for the officer still out there undermanned, outgunned, underpaid, and carrying a bloated and festering bureaucracy while trying to discharge his duties..
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No offence here, but I don’t know why you seem to be so upset, frustrated and negative here DT towards the leaders of the force. I thought the RCMP, as a whole, did everything right?
If I were a betting man, and I’m not, I would bet that the Commissioner’s Office is doing exactly what it’s been told and placed there to do, in structuring & cleaning the force of members that see the RCMP as theirs and their only pet club. Just a thought here but maybe they have risen to a dangerous operational height where they are now seen as a huge liability & treat to national security.
Maybe next time a police officer gets to be the Commissioner of the RCMP in Ottawa, if that happens again, he/not she, will not take for granted this position and think that the force and everyone in it belongs to them, but will see that it’s a position of trust, that first the politicians must trust and be secure with and he/not she will not be at liberty to do what he/not she wants, when he/not she gets there.
I think from the former Commissioner to the new Commissioner the track record speaks for itself of a badly broken police force that needed some serious political intervention & input which is what is happening right now. I know it’s a tough ride but just hang on and be a good boy and welcome the change.
I think those days of self control, where the mentality was projected, we can do no wrong and made it so, needed to be reviewed and unfortunately the writing was on the wall for the members involved back then and that funeral quickly came into sight.
The employment of the Commissioner a position held in trust and high esteem for 130 years and then the Deputy Commissioner’s position came to an end which later was decided to be replaced by a political appointment and not someone from the inside, Commissioner W. Elliot and it was about time too.
So now we have a different leader, we don’t need to fear police anymore and we don’t hear of so many deaths happening here in Canada at, or in the hands of police officers and guards, which either way you want to look at, is great news for all concerned.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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“When things don’t go well, I get frustrated, and sometimes I express that frustration in ways that aren’t constructive.”
Oops, did I just say that? If Elliot is quoted in this article correctly, he has just given every NCO and Officer in the force a new buzz line to learn. I hope he’s read the Human Rights Act under “Harassment in the workplace! If he hasn’t, he should. In my opinion, this will cost the federal government, lot of money when the “Ottawa 10” settle their harassment cases. Our hard earned tax dollars at work again!
Or is Elliot saying, “Do as I say, not as I do”
The Auditor General should be keeping a close eye on this one.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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