Gary Dimmock, Ottawa (Vancouver Sun) – An internal RCMP investigation into a series of sex and drinking escapades in a staff sergeant’s office revealed a pattern of sexual harassment so disturbing that senior Ottawa Mounties say it will take “considerable effort to rebuild the damaged trust of our organization.”
The investigation, which has not been made public until now, reviewed seven reports about the misconduct of Staff Sgt. Don Ray, the officer in charge of the polygraph unit at Alberta’s RCMP headquarters in Edmonton.
Internal Affairs investigators discovered Sgt. Ray was hosting after-hours parties in his office and kept a bar fridge stocked with Budweiser and Appleton Jamaica Rum. Sgt. Ray would encourage female subordinates to drink and make sexual advances when alone with them, the investigation found.
In April 2009, close to the end of one work day, Sgt. Ray invited his staff to a private office party at which he invited them to sit down and have a drink.
One of his female subordinates consumed four beers over two hours, and once the others left, Sgt. Ray unzipped his pants, exposed himself and told her to touch his penis, according to RCMP files. She refused.
“S/Sgt. Ray then wanted to have sexual intercourse with Ms. A, which she refused. S/ Sgt. Ray insisted but Ms. A. maintained her refusal. They then both left the building without further sexual contact,” a senior disciplinary officer wrote in his findings in February.
The investigation said Sgt. Ray exhibited a “serial” pattern of “disgraceful” conduct.
Sgt. Ray’s behaviour is the latest in a series of complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination levelled against the RCMP across the country.
A high-profile RCMP veteran, Cpl. Catherine Galliford, ignited the controversy last fall by speaking publicly about her internal allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by former male colleagues.
The complaints prompted an investigation by the RCMP Public Complaints Commission, which has asked for pub-lic input into how the Mounties dealt with the allegations. The watchdog’s probe is examining whether the RCMP followed laws and policies when investigating claims of workplace harassment. It is also considering whether existing force guidelines for dealing with such allegations are adequate.
Sgt. Ray admitted to all allegations, expressed remorse and apologized in writing. The RCMP docked him 10 days pay, demoted him by one rank to sergeant, and recommended that he be transferred.
“It goes without saying that should similar misconduct occur, dismissal would be a very likely option for a future board to consider,” the disciplinary panel said.
Sgt. Ray also had “inappropriate and unprofessional” interactions with prospective female employees.
He sent them “disgraceful” emails, took them out for drinks during the hiring process and once falsified security clearance forms for one woman, exaggerating the number of years she’d known one of her character references.
The discipline board said Sgt. Ray’s conduct was “disgraceful because [it] compromised the integrity of the RCMP’s hiring process.”
Sgt. Ray’s “disturbing pattern of activity” dates back to 2006, when he would book a polygraph suite for lunchtime sex with a female subordinate.
“It is highly disrespectful to employees who legitimately use the polygraph suite,” the discipline board noted.
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Veteran RCMP officer transferred, demoted for disgraceful conduct
Julia Parrish
CTV Edmonton
http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120522/EDM_rcmpconduct_120522/20120522/?hub=EdmontonHome
An Edmonton-based Mountie has been demoted and fined for disgraceful conduct – including drinking on the job and having sex with subordinates while at work.
An RCMP disciplinary board reprimanded Staff Sgt. Don Ray, who had been a member of the behavioural sciences unit at the RCMP headquarters in Edmonton.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Ray had kept a bar fridge stocked with liquor in his office – and had regularly offered alcoholic beverages to subordinates.
The statement also says he had sex with one subordinate in the RCMP polygraph suite, and also in an unmarked police car, the encounters reportedly dated back to 2006.
Ray also made sexually suggestive comments to other female RCMP members, and female civilian employees – he also admitted to exposing himself to a female employee on one occassion.
In addition, he admitted to having a 12-month relationship with another RCMP employee, the pair reportedly drank and had sex in the polygraph suite at RCMP headquarters in Edmonton – during lunch breaks and after work.
A total of seven women were involved, before reports of the incidents reached Ray’s superiors.
“There was a great deal of reluctance on the part of some of the people involved in this matter to speak with us,” Chief Supt. Marlin Degrand said.
While Ray has not faced criminal charges, disciplinary action against him included a loss of 10 days-worth of his salary, a demotion from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant, and recommended counseling – he’s also reportedly agreed to transfer to British Columbia, however RCMP officials would not say where.
Ray has not been fired because he readily admitted to the offences, and apologized for his misconduct.
However, CTV News has learned its likely Ray would be dismissed if any similar incidents occur.
RCMP said all of the victims involved still work with the force, and will have the proper support available to them.
In a report on the incidents, the disciplinary board said Ray’s conduct has damaged trust in the RCMP.
“It cannot help but bring discredit to the rest of us, and it hurts us,” Degrand said.