Solace in outcome for former police officer

After decades of self-doubt, a recent settlement in the classaction sexual harassment suit against the RCMP, brings peace of mind for Louise Butts.

“You can’t recover things, right?” said Butts.

“You can’t get things back. But I feel it would be closure for me, and it would validate things for me, in that I wasn’t really that much a part of the problem.”

Butts resigned from the RCMP in 1997 after 11 years because of workplace harassment and bullying.

Becoming a Mountie was the realization of a childhood dream for Butts who joined in 1986. But soon after arriving for her second career posting in Newfoundland, the allure and anticipation of donning the serge quickly faded.

In subsequent years numerous incidents took a toll, escalating to medical issues and problems with alcohol.

Butts, 57, now lives in Truro and is one of thousands of current and former RCMP officers and employees who filed claims of sexual harassment in a class-action lawsuit initiated by former Mounties Janet Merlo and Linda Davidson.

The federal government has set aside $100 million for payouts to those involved in the suit although there is no cap.

Under the settlement the harassed current and former female employees are to receive between $10,000 and $220,000.

It also stipulates the RCMP must work to eliminate harassment within its ranks.

Butts doesn’t yet know how much she will receive. And while the money will help her financially, the peace of mind of finally having it publicly acknowledged that she was not at fault, is its own reward.

As for her personal healing journey, she points to a particular event — a funeral in Truro for a fellow RCMP member.

“My healing started when I met all my ex co-workers at the church … it was validation for me,” she said. “I had one member say to me, ‘I’m really sorry for how you were treated.’

“That was the beginning of my healing.”

As for the financial aspect, “it will also give me the opportunity to go back to school and continue my education.”