It may be tempting, when watching incidents of police brutality in the U to think the problem does not really exist in Canada. However, police misconduct and a lack of accountability do exist in Canada.
Videos recently surfaced of RCMP officers aggressively arresting a man in Kelowna on May 30, 2020. One officer is seen striking him in the head. Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 RCMP superintendent Brent Mundle called it 91裸聊视频渃oncerning91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渟hocking to many people.91裸聊视频� The incident is under review to 91裸聊视频渆nsure that all protocols and procedures were followed.91裸聊视频�
Earlier this month in New Brunswick, Chantel Moore, a 26 year old British Columbian, was by police officers. Her family states that this is not the first time they91裸聊视频檝e lost a family member to police violence.
In Alberta, Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam91裸聊视频檚 claims that in March, 2020, Wood Buffalo RCMP officers beat him and arrested him. Alberta91裸聊视频檚 (ASIRT) is investigating. The ASIRT investigates 91裸聊视频渟erious or sensitive91裸聊视频� matters that 91裸聊视频渕ay have resulted from the actions of a police officer.91裸聊视频� It does not accept complaints from the general public.
Remarkably, Alberta91裸聊视频檚 RCMP deputy commissioner denies that systemic racism exists.
Starlight Tours, R. v. Munson
In a decades long practice dating back to at least the 1970s, Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) members would arrest indigenous people, drive them to remote rural areas and abandon them on cold winter nights. The practice was known as 91裸聊视频渟tarlight tours.91裸聊视频�
In the early 2000s, inquests were held into a number of indigenous people who died outside Saskatoon of hypothermia. A National Film Board produced an award winning A Commission of Inquiry released a regarding one such death.
Despite convictions and even for related offenses, no SPS member has been convicted of murder connected to an indigenous person dying of hypothermia.
Merlo v. Canada
Two former RCMP employees, Janet Merlo and Linda Gillis Davidson, sued the RCMP, alleging that female officers experienced gender and sexual orientation-based bullying, discrimination, and harassment. This impacted their RCMP careers and caused physical and psychological damage, personal expense, and loss of income.
Their claims were certified as a class action. In the Federal Court approved a 2017 settlement. The estimated payout was $90 - $100 million. The claims dated back to September 16, 1974 91裸聊视频� the first date on which women were eligible to join the RCMP.
Tiller v. Canada
Cheryl Tiller, Mary-Ellen Copland and Dayna Roach pursued claims on behalf of certain female employees in non-policing roles within the RCMP who were subject to systemic gender or sexual orientation based harassment and discrimination similar to that in Merlo. In March, 2020, in , the Federal Court approved a settlement. The estimated payout was $100 million.
O91裸聊视频橣arrell et al v Attorney General of Canada
Caroline O91裸聊视频橣arrell was a Staff Sergeant with the RCMP. She, her children and her former husband for damages arising from her experiences with the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 between April 1986 and July 1987.
Ms. O91裸聊视频橣arrell claims that she was the victim of several incidents of harassment, assault and sexual assault, perpetrated by her RCMP Musical Ride colleagues.
She also claims that following the largest internal investigation ever conducted in Ottawa, the RCMP took no substantial action against her harassers, most of whom continue to work in the RCMP today.
Acknowledgment
Numerous reports have studied the pervasiveness of harassment and discrimination within the RCMP.
In 2016, then- RCMP commissioner apologized for 91裸聊视频渟hameful conduct91裸聊视频� by the organization. He acknowledged a culture of 91裸聊视频渂ullying, intimidation, and general harassment91裸聊视频� within the RCMP.
In Summary
Those who survive police brutality and discrimination may experience long lasting effects in all areas of their lives, including employment and family relationships. Issues of entitlement and lack of accountability within our police forces ought to concern us all. Far reaching cultural and systemic changes are required.
The content of this article is intended to provide very general thoughts and general information, not to provide legal advice. Specialist advice from a qualified legal professional should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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