Two Nanaimo Mounties are among 100 being trained to investigate complaints of sexual harassment within the force.
Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, commanding officer of the RCMP in B.C., said in a written statement Monday that highly publicized recent cases alleging gender-based harassment within the force prompted him to determine the depth and scope of the issue.
One of those cases includes a class-action suit filed March 27 by former Nanaimo RMCP Const. Janet Merlo, who alleges she suffered multiple incidents of sexual harassment during her 20-year career as a Mountie.
More than 400 female RCMP members from across B.C. took part in focus groups and individual sessions that led to a review suggesting there is broad-based discomfort, a lack of confidence in the RCMP’s reporting system for on the job sexual harassment and that the process to deal with complaints takes too long once a complaint is made. There is also a need to improve follow-up communications to those making complaints.
Callens said while a comprehensive action plan to address issues is being worked up, he agreed to train more than 100 female and male RCMP members of various ranks and positions across the province to investigate complaints. Training is scheduled to be completed by the end of May or June.
Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong and Staff Sgt. Dave Herman are the Nanaimo candidates selected to take the training.
This will be a refresher course for Armstrong, who trained other officers on workplace sexual harassment when she was posted to the Lower Mainland and has strong feelings about the program.
“You have to be part of the solution and you have to make sure that all people are treated fairly,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong, who experienced sexual harassment herself, said the RCMP is a much different police force than when she joined in 1981 and female members were not so readily accepted by male officers.
Part of the training gives people the tools to deal with and end harassment on the job.
“It’s not just female members who suffer harassment,” Armstrong said. “A lot of different people suffer harassment and it’s not just in the RCMP. It’s in a lot of different organizations where you have a lot of people working together.”
How complaints are dealt with when they come in and how swiftly they are acted upon is critical.
Armstrong said when she came forward with complaints of her own, she was fortunate to have managers who took them seriously and dealt with them quickly.
“I really believe that our senior management in this division as well as the RCMP are firmly committed to dealing with this issue,” Armstrong said. “I firmly believe that.”
Jason Murray, a lawyer with Vancouver-based law firm Klein Lyons, which is representing Merlo, said any move forward by the RCMP is a good thing and he is pleasantly surprised to see action.
“It’s encouraging to see the RCMP now beginning to take – or at least appearing to take – harassment seriously,” Murray said. “Any steps going forward of to reduce the amount of gender-based harassment that occurs – and the nature of gender-based harassment – is going to be positive going forward.”
