Login / RegisterPsychologist Mike Webster says RCMP old-boys network explains why Don Ray is still a Mountie
Mountie Don Ray exposed his penis to a female subordinate, had sex with another at the polygraph room during lunch breaks and after-office hours, engaged in intercourse with a third one at a public parking lot, and harassed a fourth employee by calling her a "hottie".
Download
Read the ruling on Don Ray
The disgraced cop admitted to all of these and more. He also provided and consumed alcohol at the office.
He could have been dismissed from the service, according to police psychologist Mike Webster.
Instead, Ray got a reprimand, demoted from the rank of staff sergeant to sergeant, docked 10 days pay, and got transferred from Alberta to B.C.
“The reason Mr. Ray still has his job is because it’s an old-boys network,” Webster told the Straight in a phone interview on June 1.
That was also the day when the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision that quashed efforts by RCMP officers to form a union.
The appeal court reversed a 2009 decision by the Ontario Superior Court that stated that it was unconstitutional to block members of the national police force to form a labour association.
Commenting on the latest decision, Webster said that the creation of a union “would have been one of the cornerstones in the transformation of the RCMP”.
“RCMP senior management and executives have been accountable to no one since their inception,” Webster said. “Consequently they have created a toxic workplace, high levels of employee stress, and a culture of fear.”
In the case of Ray, Webster said that his career was saved by his superiors and colleagues, who wrote letters of support for him.
He said that it’s all explained in the January 31, 2012 decision rendered on Ray’s case by an adjudication board composed of three senior RCMP officers.
“It was very revealing why Mr. Ray did not lose his job,” said Webster, who provided the Straight a copy of the board’s ruling.
Webster contrasted the handling of the Ray case to that of another RCMP officer who had engaged in many sex escapades.
Now ex-constable Trent Richards was ordered to resign in 2008. While on duty in Shawnigan Lake, B.C., he engaged in sex with different women on at least 15 occasions. He also posed in police uniform in online dating sites.
Richards appealed the decision, but left the force in 2011.
This shows that although the disciplinary process may be slow, it can work if the RCMP demonstrates leadership, according to Webster.
“Leadership is all about heart,” Webster said. “It’s all about a deep sense of justice.”
The rank and file officers, who maintain their integrity and ethics as they serve the public with honour, are then subject to the egregious behaviour of those who aren't fit to wear the uniform. How many RCMP personnel are currently on medical leave with mental health disorders, addictions etc. What is the turnover rate? How many civil law suits have been filed for harassment & bullying?
RCMP members, like any other workers, deserve the right to unionize to have a fighting chance against a morally bankrupt employer that does not have it's workers best interests at heart.
If it was at all true 'Gertrude' could've sought all sorts of legal action the union provides to it's members. Lies lies, and more lies.
The current culture in the RCMP has festered for years, lack of solid leadership, no accountability just remember the second last Commissioner involved in the pension fraud - rotten right to the top, and Elliott pushed out as he probably fought against the old boys.
The RCMP at this time have prpared us for an onslaught of more "bad apples" cases, well Commissioner Paulson advice is to be pro-active and get them out there, dirty laundry aired. Don't spread it out over months but get it over and done with and then get on with implementing the RCMP Mission Statement, Vision Statement, RCMP Committment to the Communities and also to your Employees but the one with the greatest impact on change is your (RCMP) Core Values.
These guiding principles have been ignored, avoided for years - put these into daily routine for every RCMP employee, all 30,000, not the lower rank and file! Don't forget yourself - costs nothing and having worked for a federal department akin to the RCMP it WORKS!
Don't become a puppet for Harper/towes preserve the integrity of the RCMP as an independant federal body that is open to change and growth - otherwise a Kingston artist may paint your portrait.