Court Documents Reveal Harassment and Discrimination Against Surrey Police Officers

Court documents related to the City of Surrey's legal challenge against transitioning from the RCMP to a municipal police force have shed light on allegations of harassment, discrimination, and disrespect towards Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers by RCMP members. The claims, contained in a January 2023 "respectful workplace investigation summary" by SPS Insp. Bal Brach, detail 50 incidents reported by 12 SPS officers.

The allegations of harassment and discrimination within law enforcement agencies have far-reaching implications for public trust and safety. If left unchecked, such behaviours can lead to a toxic work environment, compromising the ability of police officers to effectively serve and protect their communities.

The alleged incidents include racialized and discriminatory behavior, such as a racial slur made by an RCMP or City of Surrey employee and a "racialized and discriminatory game" played by two Mounties that mocked a Black male suspect. SPS officers also reported being publicly ridiculed, intimidated, and ostracized while working alongside the Surrey RCMP.

According to the report, some RCMP supervisors engaged in an "ongoing scheme of disrespect and harassment" against SPS officers they had "negatively reported on" to their superiors. Union lawyer Sebastian Andersonrevealed in a letter that efforts to have the matters investigated were hampered when both WorkSafeBC and Labour Canada declined jurisdiction over the bullying and harassment concerns, citing jurisdictional issues due to the deployment of provincially regulated employees to federally regulated work sites.

"In spite of complaints being made to both WorkSafeBC and Labour Canada, both governmental agencies have declined jurisdiction — WorkSafeBC because the work sites are federally regulated and Labour Canada because the employees are provincially regulated," Anderson wrote. The RCMP, while not involved in the court dispute, has issued a statement denying the allegations and committing to a respectful workplace, stating, "RCMP is committed to providing a healthy, safe and respectful workplace for all employees, free of harassment and discrimination."

Why this matters: The allegations are part of the City of Surrey's legal challenge against the province's decision to transition from the RCMP to the municipal force. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, elected on a promise to halt the transition and keep the RCMP in Surrey, opposes the switch despite the province's legislative changes compelling it. The court documents were unsealed on Thursday after the judge denied the B.C. Public Safety Ministry's request to keep the exhibits sealed.

Thecourt documents revealing harassment and discrimination against Surrey Police Service officers by RCMP members underscore the challenges and tensions surrounding the controversial police transition in Surrey. As the legal battle continues, the allegations raise serious concerns about the work environment and relationships between the two police forces during this complex and contentious process.

Key Takeaways

• 50 incidents of harassment, discrimination, and disrespect reported by 12 Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers.
• Allegations include racial slurs, discriminatory behavior, and public ridicule by RCMP members.
• WorkSafeBC and Labour Canada declined jurisdiction over bullying and harassment concerns due to jurisdictional issues.
• RCMP denies allegations, commits to a respectful workplace, and opposes the transition to a municipal force.
• Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke opposes the transition, despite province's legislative changes compelling it.