Search just our sites by using our customised site search engine



Click here to get a Printer Friendly PageSmiley

Click here to learn more about MyHeritage and get free genealogy resources

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Electric Canadian Note


I've always thought the RCMP were a great force but since coming to Canada I have to say I've changed my mind somewhat.

A program on CBC's Fifth Estate followed 4 women who complained about sexual assault by a fellow officer.  Other complaints have been made by women in the force against male colleagues. I also keep reading about other incidents which really don't show the force in the best light.  From what I can see these incidents are all covered up by some very senior officers.

One other example was a Polish man who got upset about being detained at one of Canada's airports and as I understand it 5 RCMP offices taizered the man from which assault he died.  In many respects this would be considered bullying and using excessive force.

Other stories come out from time to time which really don't show the force in the best light and this goes right up to the very top of the force. These incidents are usually covered up by senior officers. 

In fact there are now so many stories going the rounds that you really have to wonder what has happened to the force that had such good standing in history.

The problem here is that all RCMP officers get tainted with the same brush and it would seem the forces credibility is probably at its lowest point ever in their history.

Having just watched the Fifth Estate program again I felt compelled to make this note as I also listened to what the Top ranking officer in the force had to say and I have to say I was not at all impressed with his comments about it. I would also have no faith in him resolving the very serious issues that are evident within the force.

On July 31st 2012 I also learned that there is now a class action law suite by some 200 female members of the RCMP about their treatment by male officers.

Mounties reach multi-million sexual harassment settlement
6 October 2016 from BBC News.

The Canadian Mounties have reached a multi-million dollar settlement agreement with female members and civilian staff of the national police force after decades of workplace gender and sexual discrimination, bullying and harassment.

The settlement agreement, expected to reach CA$100m ($76m/£59m) in compensation, still needs federal court approval.

On Thursday, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Bob Paulson apologised to the women affected by what he called "shameful conduct" and the force's failure in allowing a culture of harassment to fester within the RCMP.

"Some of these women left the RCMP, heartbroken, disillusioned and angry. Others stayed and were forced to find ways to cope with this inexcusable condition since they did not see an organisation that was willing to change," a tearful Mr Paulson said.

The two class-action lawsuits that led to the settlement agreement were filed by former Mounties Janet Merlo, who joined the RCMP in 1991, and Linda Gillis Davidson, who joined in 1985.

Ms Merlo, who says she lived with 20 years of sexual comments. pranks and derogatory remarks inflicted by "a minority, but a potent minority" of male colleagues, called Thursday's apology and settlement a "turning point for the RCMP".

"I have total faith that this is the beginning of a new era, hopefully a better era," she said.

All told, the dual class-actions represent some 500 plaintiffs. Federal officials are expecting up to 1,000 women who worked in the RCMP between 1974 and when the settlement receives court approval to seek claims under the agreement.

Allegations of sexual harassment and a toxic work environment have been dogging the RCMP for years after a high-profile Mountie first went public with her claims in 2011.

Corporal Catherine Galliford, a former RCMP spokeswoman, said years of sexual harassment left her with post-traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia.

The national force has since worked to change the culture, making it easier to report bullying and harassment. They committed on Thursday to initiatives that "support a respectful and inclusive workplace".

The RCMP provides both federal law enforcement across Canada and provincial and municipal policing in eight provinces and three territories. They also police some 600 aboriginal communities.

Women have been able to become full-fledged police officers within the RCMP for over 40 years and now make up about 20% of the force's 28,000 employees.

Mounties who seek claims will be allowed to remain anonymous. The independent claim process and compensation scheme will be overseen by former Supreme Court of Canada judge Michel Bastarache.

But should female Mounties choose to come forward to RCMP leadership with valid harassment claims, Mr Paulson said, "you can rest assured that the fist of God will descend on the [perpetrators]".

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
First Nations Community Policing Services (RCMP - FNCPS) Agreements - Volume 3. (pdf)

Policing the plains
Being the real-life record of the famous Royal North-West Mounted Police by MacBeth, R. G. (Roderick George) (1922) (pdf)


Return to the Living Legend Page

This comment system requires you to be logged in through either a Disqus account or an account you already have with Google, Twitter, Facebook or Yahoo. In the event you don't have an account with any of these companies then you can create an account with Disqus. All comments are moderated so they won't display until the moderator has approved your comment.