(New West Record) – If you haven’t been taking notes, it’s hard to recall the sheer number of black eyes the RCMP has gotten over the past year or two – or even the past couple of weeks.
There were the high-profile deaths of Ian Bush and Robert Dziekanski; there was the bungling of the Robert Pickton file; there was the inadvertent release of hundreds of crime scene and victim images left on a digital camera “hidden” on a suspect’s property.
Then came the harassment claims. Four officers have come forward alleging that they were victims of constant bullying and sexual harassment and that their leadership was completely indifferent.
Out of this Lord-of-the-Flies culture rise newly minted Commissioner Bob Paulson
and, in B.C., Assistant Commissioner Craig Callens. Both men have publicly vowed to crack down on misconduct of this kind. Theirs is a huge task.
It’s a good development that a disinterested civilian, an American no less, will investigate deaths and serious injuries in B.C. involving Mounties, hopefully ending decades of wagon circling and obfuscation.
But professional misconduct will still be handled through the same channels, and it will be up to Paulson and Callens to make those channels actually work for once. Frankly, promises of this sort have been made before – and obviously not kept. This time, examples must be made. If some wrists are slapped behind closed doors (such as one-day suspensions with pay) we can be fairly certain it will be the same-old cover ups or, more accurately, cover up for your buddies game.
But to wash out so many stains from the iconic red serge, the prime task must be to make new officers expect and demand a new culture. These are the women and men who will eventually turn a secret society back into a public service.
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“Then came the harassment claims. Four officers have come forward alleging that they were victims of constant bullying and sexual harassment and that their leadership was completely indifferent”.
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The Fifth Estate program has left us with many more questions:
How were the female RCMP members recruited from their respective sections? What kind of paper trail was started in relation to the requests? Was it just a phone call? Their supervisors should be questioned.
Undercover operators are very rarely, if ever in charge of the file. Was Blondell in charge of the file? If not, who and what role did their action or non action fit in this incident?
Who decided that no criminal charges would be laid and why? Was it an extension of perceived injustice or really no chance of a conviction?
If Bev Busson had made an appearance at the hearing of Blondell a clear message would have been sent. As I understand no appearance was made.
Were the bad guys really targets or was something else at play here?
I have been posted to drug sections and worked extensively as an undercover operator. Most drug sections that I have had contact with were very dysfunctional and abused alcohol. Good work was done but a great number of members had their careers and lives ruined by alcohol and abuse of their police powers.
Recent incidents involving the Church, Scouts Canada, Penn State and the RCMP seems to be putting the institutions before their people. There must be obedience to authority in these institutions.
These institutions however, are demanding “BLIND” obedience to authority. That will never work.
There are women in the RCMP who have bought into the abusive and cut throat environment. That is unfortunate. Perhaps however, they realize that the only way to be excel up the ranks is to go along to be successful. Sad situation.
Calvin Lawrence
Honestly, I don’t believe the organization is fixable at this point. This promise has been made again and again and nothing changes. Just recently a guy well known for a long history of tantrums, bullying and sub-standard police work was promoted to number 2 in this division. What does that tell you about the future of the force?
Definitely agree with the “lord of the flies” comment. In the force “the lord fly” is usually a lazy, borderline incompetent, trouble making, subhuman, bottom feeder.
I really believe the force needs outside investigators to look into the harassment, and understand the difference between Dysfunction and Conflict- because the powers that be have certainly been doing a lousy job at it.
They should start with an objective Dr. Kenneth Westhues of the university of Waterloo to begin looking into the problem. He has devoted his life to studying and tackling the issue. The force is in over its head on this one.