(CBC News) – RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson’s pledge to restore public confidence in the national police force — following a number of high-profile scandals — has created tension among some members, who feel he is lumping all officers into the same category, a recent email exchange obtained by CBC News reveals.
But the head of the organization says change is necessary and it requires “all hands on deck.”
A staff sergeant from B.C. wrote to Paulson after the RCMP chief issued a video statement focusing on the need for solid police work, accountable leadership, discipline and a respectful workplace.
Paulson has been vocal about the need to rid the force of its “bad apples” and the government recently introduced legislation to give the commissioner more powers to discipline or fire those who give the force a bad name.
Staff Sgt. Tim Chad, however, wrote to Paulson saying trust is missing between officers and senior managers, who are trying to create a new culture within the RCMP when only a few are to blame for its woes.
“We are not all a bunch of screw-ups but it is evident we are all being lumped into that category and we are not valued and trusted,” he wrote in an email in July.
Chad also said the RCMP senior executive committee is pursuing changes to benefits without proper consultation with employees.
“We are being paid lip service and this is of grave concern,” he wrote.
Paulson responded by suggesting that Chad is “living under a rock” if he thinks that the RCMP does not require an “all hands on deck” approach to restoring the public’s trust.
“Wake up Man, this organization is at risk,” he wrote.
RCMP challenges not a ‘PR exercise’
Paulson stuck by his comments in an interview with CBC News and said the RCMP troubles didn’t start with recent accusations of sexual harassment but go back years, including a pension scandal and the Taser-related death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport.
“When some of our members think of our challenges as being a PR exercise that is being dominated by some bad behaving members then we do the organization a disservice,” Paulson said.
The RCMP is facing a number of lawsuits from women who allege they were subject to harassment and bullying on the job. One class-action suit has been filed by hundreds of current and former Mounties.
Paulson said the RCMP needs to make fundamental changes or risk losing the trust of Canadians.
“The employees in the RCMP need to understand what’s at stake,” Paulson told CBC. “And not everybody does. A lot of people do but not everybody does.”
Chad declined a request for comment saying it would violate policy.
Staff Sgt. Mike Casault, from the RCMP’s staff relations program, said he has heard similar complaints from other officers but said it is due largely to the widespread changes coming to the organization.
Along with the changes to the way officers are disciplined, the RCMP announced it would overhaul employee health, disability and support services to reduce costs.
“There are some members out there that are getting disgruntled, discouraged and so Tim [Chad] is not the only one,” Casault said.
Mounties are dealing with a number of unknowns and many are looking for clarity about what’s in store, he said.
Paulson was promoted to commissioner in November of last year and pledged to transform the RCMP to restore morale within the force and trust with Canadians.
[Source]
“Within the RCMP all top officials have to work themselves upward through the hierarchy, presumably by repeatedly pleasing their superiors.
Superiors usually approve of the continuous development of their policies rather than sharp breaks with tradition. Therefore the screening process of upward movement tends to reject radicals and promote a relative homogeneous group”.
Keeping the above in mind; did the RCMP Commissioner openly challenge wrong doing on his way up the ranks? Or did he simply go along to get along? That is a question that I would ask him.
Quote:
“We train hard- but it seems that every time we were beginning to form teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing. And what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization. (Satyricon)
Calvin: exactly right. The people who reach the higher ranks in the RCMP don’t get there by making waves. They get there by stroking the appropriate egos and parroting the party line as required. Its difficult to go against 30-plus years of conditioning and I don’t see Bob Paulson having that kind of gumption. Hope I’m wrong – but I don’t think so.
We used to have Petronius’ quote on the wall in our unit. One day an Inspector from another section saw it and tore it down. He said it was bad for morale.
I for one remain skeptical of bravado and galvanizing comments designed to give the illusion of progress. I submit there has been several sources of analysis on a professional level to lead to germane activity on a number of fronts facing the Commissioner.
I am highly skeptical of the digital intrusion noted by lindapepper. I would also opine that those are a poor substitute for proper training of, and action by, competent supervisors. The legal aspects of these measures appear to be either not considered, commented upon, or completely ignored.
Indeed, Commissioner Paulson should be asking himself on a monthly basis what he has done to improve the situation of the front line workers in the organization. The .1% of his workforce that is presently in various stages of legal activity by or from the employees should not be the entire focus of his energy. We have heard constantly about some very basic issues that would alleviate a great deal of stress on his people if he were to address them simultaneously. Basic issues that envelope the very well being of his Force. Sufficient staff resources to respond to the public’s needs. Release of administrative burdens unnecessarily thrust upon front end staff. First rate equipment as opposed to govt cheapest first doctrine. A true adversarial representative system for the organization. Removal of the upper command, especially the Commissioners office, from the sitting govt of the day. Release from the convoluted and anachronistic Treasury Board practices.
As an organization that bleeds money by design, I find the notion of performance bonuses for select high command positions unacceptable. Every dollar that is saved by short changing public service is not fair to the average citizen. I would encourage the millions spent in this fashion to be discontinued forthwith.
Commissioner Paulson is quoted by the CBC in 2011 as saying: “”When I joined this force, it fit like a glove. And I’ve been in love with it ever since.” I have yet to hear from him on his day to day activity within the organization and if his 19 years in the Province of British Columbia alone revealed any of the ongoing issues he now waxes emphatically upon. Did he see any of the problems he now faces? I have yet to hear from the former Commissioner Busson on the very same. Silence from the recently retired Deputy Commissioner Carbonneau on her 37 years as well. He speaks of RCMP culture, yet the public waxing poetic of yesteryear and its iconic wonder are left adrift in the debate. When exactly did the organization transition from icon to scorn, and more importantly what past practices made it so wonderful back then.
Sounds to me like the Commissioner is saying; it’s time we did our job and stop protecting the bad apples inside the force. It looks like we are all bad cops when we do this, in the publics eye.
Time to take action and stop playing favorites.
I read the emails several times and I think that both Chad and Paulson should have done the 24 hour rule before hitting the send button. The Commissioner admittedly likes to lay in bed at the end of the day with his laptop and google RCMP and see what comes up, and then make notes and comments. I think this must be one of those late hour keyboarding efforts on his part and probably a post hairy night shift for Chad with the usual too little manpower and too much demands.
The tone of both emails could have been more professional and informative. There are valid concerns on both ends here if either took the time to interpret and examine the points. Chad commented on a disconnect between the front lines and the SEC. Some see it as a trust issue. The Commissioner was obviously insulted that his efforts were not recognized and wants to change some things and thinks Chad is not on board.
If either were really listening I think they would have heard common ground on some points. It was nice of the Commissioner to attach some positive comments he gets everyday, something the media never publishes. Both he and Chad know these accolades but fail to connect on the issue of all of us wanting the whiners and incapable out of the Force.
And hey retired, have you read about the Orwellian databases now coming into effect? Here is your walk the walk so far: a computer database to have all your SBOR, 3414s, PCMVAs, internals, public complaints, stressful incidents, visits to a psychologist, civil suits, marriage breakups, entered so that a flag based on “points” assigned to those things will pop up if you have “too many”. Then you will be subject to assessment by Health Services, that paragon of efficiency, to see if you are OK to be working.
Next up is the database where you will have to report “ongoing or singular consensual, intimate, romantic or sexual relationships” between those in positions of authority and their subordinates.” And when that is examined you can expect: “removing or transferring one of the employees, reassigning duties, or “any other measures to mitigate concerns…”
Seems to me that he is counting on machines and reports to do the job that supervisors everywhere should be trained to do. I am wondering if this is connected to the bunch of little surveys that come out on ROSS in the past while.
S/Sgt. Chad’s comments are positively gentle. Paulson should be relieved if this is the most vitriolic e-mail he gets.
Chad is right to be worried. In its rush to make things right (correction – to make it appear as if it is trying to make things right, while conducting business as usual) a lot of decent members are going to take shit. Clearly Paulson doesn’t get this, or he does but doesn’t care.
And as per usual the RCMP’s stated aims – righting old wrongs, treating employees fairly, dealing with assholes, restoring public confidence – do not mesh at all with their actions. Despite Paulson calling for an “all hands on deck” effort from his employees the RCMP continues to crap on members who have in some way failed to live up to the image the force loves to presenty. First they publicly vilify female members who have had the temerity to make claims of harassment. Then they trot out a tame female Superintendent to hint publicly that said female members should expect a certain level of harassment and that those who complained are simply not tough enough. Now psychologist Mike Webster who has been publicly and rightly critical of the RCMP has been advised that the RCMP will no longer pay for his services to members and complain that he takes too long to get members back to work – a tactic that can only cause more grief for members in treatment.
Putin would endorse tactics like these. The overriding message from Paulson: Image is all. Don’t get in the way.
Good on the Commish for not backing off his points he made when he took office. As a retired member one of the things I have noticed is we get little sound bites from him periodically and then long periods of silence. I appreciate he needs time before he can affect change. He has been in the job for almost nine months now and pretty soon he needs to “walk the walk and not just talk the talk.” I hope someone from his staff reads this blog and brings that point to his attention. I believe he is a well intentioned man but talk only goes so far as evidenced by some of his predecessors.