Login / RegisterMounties file complaint against RCMP critic and police psychologist Mike Webster
The RCMP has hit outspoken police psychologist Mike Webster with a double tap.
First, it filed a formal complaint against Webster before the College of Psychologists of British Columbia.
Secondly, the national police force terminated his counselling services.
Insp. Maxine Schwartz, officer in charge of the RCMP’s Vancouver-based E Division Occupational Health & Safety, informed Webster about these actions in a letter dated August 1, 2012.
Webster has spoken critically about the RCMP, calling it a "sick" organization needing major reforms before it destroys itself.
In 2008, he testified before a commission of inquiry that looked into the deadly encounter between Robert Dziekanski and four RCMP officers at the Vancouver International Airport that saw the newly arrived Polish immigrant zapped repeatedly by a Taser.
“I am embarrassed to be associated with organizations that taser sick old men in hospital beds and confused immigrants arriving to the country. Frankly I find it embarrassing,” Webster declared at the inquiry.
In previous interviews, he highlighted the need to stop the RCMP from doing contract police work in provinces, territories, and municipalities. He wants the force to focus instead on federal law enforcement, just like the FBI in the U.S.
Webster also favours the formation of a labour union in the RCMP. According to him, the force is a toxic workplace.
The Victoria native has worked with and acted as a consultant to various police forces in Canada and abroad for over 30 years. He is a specialist in crisis management. He is also an expert on matters relating to the application of force.
In Schwartz’s letter to Webster, the police inspector told the psychologist that the force filed a complaint against him before the College of Psychologists “based on our repeated observations you have not maintained a consistent focus on the clinical needs of your RCMP clients”.
“Instead, your focus tends to be on the need for the RCMP to change organizationally,” Schwartz wrote.
The police officer also told Webster’s “lack of objectivity in both your clinical work and public commentary towards the RCMP have weakened your effectiveness in treating your RCMP client base".
Hence, the RCMP is “terminating funding for your services immediately”.
According to the letter, Webster can continue treating some of his existing clients. However, Schwartz wrote that “all transitional treatment” must be completed by October 30, 2012. “The RCMP will not fund any treatment that you provide beyond this date,” the officer wrote.
But listening to critics - no matter who they are - is precisely what the RCMP must do. They must do much more listening, not less.
What is particularly alarming is the assertion by Insp. Maxine Schwartz that Webster has not "maintained a consistent focus on the clinical needs of your RCMP clients".
Given the confidential nature of the relationship between patient and therapist, how did Insp. Schwartz arrive at that conclusion?
Sadly, I think the force is done. I had hoped that a new, tough-talking commissioner might make a positive difference, but so far, it's "same old, same old".
There is zero indication that a provincial police force would be any better than the RCMP. If you don't believe me, look into the OPP and QPP.
The problem is culture, and the same culture exists in police agencices around the world.
This is what psychopathic organizations do - attack and try to destroy the reputation and livelihood of whistleblowers, who are usually ethical resisters and critics who denounce their cultures and the norms that perpetuate abuse of power. This is one of the reasons the RCMP has become what it is. It has become an amoral, unethical culture that overlooks, encourages and sometimes rewards deviant behaviour. And it punishes those who don't fall in line, or submit to the deviants in charge.
As a taxpayer I would like to know what basis they decided "Webster’s “lack of objectivity in both your clinical work and public commentary towards the RCMP have weakened your effectiveness in treating your RCMP client base".
Clearly the organization has little interest in the psychological well-being of its members to destroy their therapeutic relationship with their well-qualified clinician.
As the various legal actions and class actions continue forward we will hear much, much more about the ways individuals and the organization have caused suffering and harm to their members over the years. It's really concerning that Paulsen says he's trying to create culture change when he must be aware this witch hunt is proceeding.
What the RCMP officers have with UNLIMITED sick leave, not accumulative, is outrageous, and likely some have abused this such as number of women with their lawsuits and hence the top brass want to get officers back to work. Orginally this sick leave was not abused but sure appears to be now - one female officer spent more time on maternity and sick leave than at work. However if an officer is stressed due to the work place then yes he/she is entitled to counselling as he/she is of no benefit to the force if not in a healthy mental and physical state. A two sided issue here.
If the RCMP can not figure that out, there is no hope for the organization. Delisting Mike Webster simply is killing the messenger because you don't like the message.
Dr. Webster is quite correct that if the RCMP should be able to unionize. It would go a long way to dealing with many of the problems. Union contracts provide for a grievance procedure & third party ajudication. Currently RCMP officers who have problems at work have no where to go to solve them & there is nothing there to force management to change. A few ruling from an adjudicator/arbitrator against an employer with a few large payouts will ensure the RCMP gets its act together.
I agree that the RCMP should not be in the business of providing police services in many areas. The were established to provide a federal presence & to provide police services to rural areas.
yes, Dr. Webster might be just the right person to oversee the RCMP & ensure change happens. Canada can not continue with the RCMP as it currently functions.
For years you are a model member of the RCMP, then one day, upper management mounts a campaign to discredit you.
For years you are a distinguished Dr. in psychology, and one day, upper management black list you and files a complaint with the BC College of Doctors and physicians.
The RCMP with all their secrets and their reluctance to evolve still think of themselves as above the law. Their reluctance to change will soon cause this organization to desintegrate from within. There is no way up for this organization anymore.
The secrets and corruption starts at the very top, with senior management, and Dr. Webster's story is just the tip of the iceberg regarding RCMP Health Services, much more is to come.