TAKE A BOW, COUNCILLOR
Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart, who was accused of running afoul of the Calgary police commission for publicly speaking out about harassment within the Calgary Police Service, deserves thanks for drawing needed attention to reprehensible behaviour.
Instead, the veteran city politician has felt compelled to resign from the commission, which provides civilian oversight of the city’s police force, after 10 years.
The body says Colley-Urquhart may have violated four areas of its code of conduct.
“To function effectively, members must attend meetings, share their knowledge of events and work with the entire board on developing the commission’s position on important issues, so we can provide clear expectations to the Calgary Police Service. Without that open communication, we risk eroding public confidence in our civilian oversight role,” commission chairman Brian Thiessen said this week.
We appreciate it’s desirable for commission members to be team players and to accept the body’s chairman should usually serve as spokesman. But Colley-Urquhart was elected to represent her constituents and to protect the city’s best interests. Speaking out about alleged abuse within the police force is called leadership, and demonstrates needed compassion, no matter how much it might irritate others.
The reports of unprofessional conduct in the police department reflect poorly on many people — police brass, the police commission and the officers accused of creating a workplace culture that is disrespectful of women.
To their credit, the police service and the police commission are working hard to address gender equity, but it’s unfortunate that Colley-Urquhart is the one who appears to be paying the price for trying to make a difference. The optics are horrible: a woman calls out bad male behaviour and feels it necessary to resign.
Colley-Urquhart met quietly with female police officers who felt aggrieved, and she gave voice to their complaints. They shared their stories about harassment and sexual advances by other officers.
“When guns become locked and loaded at me, it does no service at all to what the women in the Calgary police have experienced,” said Colley-Urquhart. “I don’t want anything I say to further jeopardize these women police officers. Some have already resigned. Others continue to be impacted. I want to say unequivocally that this is not about me.”
She may have bruised the delicate feelings of her colleagues on the police commission, but she’s got nothing to apologize for. Quite the opposite. Thank you, councillor, for being a voice for fairness.