Police project targets sexual harassment, violence on job
Since 2018, the Ottawa Police Service has had eight cases of sexual harassment or sexual violence alleged by 14 different women in the force.
In 2018, there was one reported incident of workplace sexual violence and three cases of workplace sexual harassment. Five women complained in total.
In 2019, there was one reported incident of workplace sexual violence and two cases of sexual harassment. Six different women complained.
And thus far in 2020, there has been one incident of reported sexual harassment involving three women.
The service last week refused to detail the numbers but revealed the cases on Monday as part of announcing a joint project with the police board to tackle workplace sexual violence and sexual harassment, prompted by multiple allegations of sexual harassment against the second-in-command of the entire organization.
Chief Peter Sloly said the numbers of reported cases within the service are likely low because of under-reporting.
“I want to be clear that any type of misconduct is unacceptable in the Ottawa Police Service,” he told the board at its monthly meeting. “Our members expect more from their organization, as does the community. We need to do better and we will.”
Speaking directly to the women of the force, Sloly said his team and the service will act “decisively and continuously” to end sexual harassment, workplace violence and bullying.
Acting Deputy Chief Joan McKenna, who is heading the joint project, said the service is playing catch-up to deal with sexual harassment in its ranks. Human rights complaints, ongoing criminal cases against members charged with sexual assault and a gender audit years ago found gender-based discrimination in the service.
But now Deputy Chief Uday Jaswal stands accused of repeatedly sexually harassing three women over the course of 11 years. The police association has said women fear reprisals in coming forward.
“We recognize that sexual violence and harassment can exist in any organization and the Ottawa Police Service is not immune to that,” McKenna said.
“We recognize we need to catch up with supporting our members and create a better understanding so that our people understand that sexual violence and harassment in this work environment is not acceptable.”
The service also knows it needs to look at what happens internally when a member does come forward with allegations and how it responds.
McKenna said that changing the culture means both starting with leadership and from the grassroots.
Everyone from the rank of constable will be expected to do better, to be champions for what’s right who denounce what’s wrong and inappropriate.
The project’s draft mission is to eliminate “any type of workplace sexual violence and harassment at the Ottawa police … and to create and maintain a supportive and inclusive work environment for more members.”
McKenna said the service wants to “ensure we have basically an overall culture of respect, openness, high standards for professional and equitable policing, better reflective of our core values. We want to create a safe environment for all members when they come to work.”
Ottawa police will also conduct a “workplace harassment audit” this year as part of the project.
Coun. Carol Anne Meehan asked Sloly during the board meeting what his message was to women who fear reprisals in accusing their fellow employees of sexual harassment or violence. “My message to them is very simple: do come forward,” Sloly said. “That simple message doesn’t ignore the reality that many members face around coming forward. … It’s always a very difficult decision to make.”
As it stands, members can report directly to their chain of command, to internal investigators, or directly to the chief’s office but they are reluctant to do so, Sloly said. Indeed, the three women who have come forward with allegations against Jaswal went first through a human rights complaint and then directly to the civilian police watchdog. The service will also explore third-party reporting in the project.
Sloly said the “number one thing is not to continue to be victimized, not to be alone. There is somebody within this organization — an employee resource group, a supervisor who you have confidence and trust in, a senior officer, a male or female leader, someone you can come forward to. Do not be alone, do not sit on this alone, act on it in some way.”
He said it was time for the service to get serious about supporting survivors, protecting members from reprisal, co-ordinating responses and investigations.