RCMP complaints process now includes bias category
The civilian commission overseeing complaints about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has quietly updated its filing procedures to address discrimination claims, a CBC investigation has revealed.
This spring, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP added a “bias” category to its complaint process.
Commission chairperson Michelaine Lahaie said complaints alleging biased or discriminatory behaviour have historically been classified as “improper attitude.”
The new category will be used when “actions, inactions or decisions made by a member resulted in the inequitable treatment of a person or group.”
In 2020, then RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki acknowledged that systemic racism existed within the law enforcement agency after initially downplaying the issue.
Prior to introducing the bias option, the commission received 2141 complaints under the improper attitude category during the last fiscal year.
A number of RCMP members across Canada are currently under investigation for racist and sexist actions, including three British Columbian officers alleged to have made jokes about sexual assault and Tasering Black unarmed people in an online group chat.
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