The RCMP public complaints commission launched its investigation in November 2011 in reaction to widespread reports from female Mounties about systemic sexual harassment.
The report released Thursday looks at 718 harassment complaints filed between 2005 and 2011, representing about 2.5 per cent of all employees at the RCMP.
Commission chairman Ian McPhail said about 90 per cent of the complaints involved bullying. Only four per cent of the complaints dealt with sexual harassment.
"Yes, there's a problem of harassment, but overwhelmingly the problem was abuse of authority," McPhail told CBC News.
In the highest-profile cases of sexual harassment, he said the commission found no bias or negligence.
McPhail's recommendations include that the RCMP:
Improve its record-keeping by tracking all complaints.
Improve its definition of harassment.
Provide specialized training to investigators and managers.
Set deadlines for the treatment of allegations about workplace conflict.
The commission says its investigation didn't point to a systemic problem of sexual harassment within the police force, despite intense publicity about difficulties and grievances.
However, the report said the simple perception of a pattern of poor treatment of employees is enough to rattle public confidence and tarnish the force's reputation.
Public complaints from officers
Several female RCMP officers have come forward with complaints since Cpl. Catherine Galliford went public in 2011 with allegations of harassment. Male officers have also cited abusive behaviour and intimidation.
The commission found the complex system for dealing with complaints meant some took as long as four years to process.
"That's clearly unacceptable," McPhail said. "No one can fairly be expected to have their lives and their careers on hold for up to four years while a complaint is resolved. People see that sort of thing happening, and even if they have a legitimate complaint, they're not going to step forward."
Also Thursday, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced a "gender and respect" action plan that sets out 37 measures he says will improve the culture and the composition of the force.
The report comes a day after the RCMP in British Columbia was accused of abusive acts, including rape, against aboriginal women. The accusations, which include police threats, torture and sexual assault, were detailed by New York-based Human Rights Watch, which called on the federal government to launch a national inquiry.
The complaints commission report dealt solely with complaints within the RCMP, not those involving civilians.
Original Article
Source: CBC
Author: cbc
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