Constables start group for female officers

WATERLOO REGION — A Waterloo Regional Police officer who is suing her employer for genderbased discrimination and sexual harassment has started a national advocacy group for female officers facing discrimination.

“We (the group) are targeting issues of systemic and institutional sexual harassment and discrimination in policing,” said Const. Angelina Rivers, who along with former Const. Sharon Zehr, created the group.

Rivers said since the classaction lawsuit against the police was launched in June, she has been contacted by “well over 100 women” in policing who have experienced similar stories of discrimination.

“Before I was a part of the lawsuit, I didn’t know how widespread it was,” she said. “I had no idea there were women who had the same story as I did.”

Rivers said the primary focus of the group — National Women in Law Enforcement Association — is to lobby the government to change the Police Services Act so that there is “real independent oversight.”

In the lawsuit, Rivers and Zehr allege they were subjected to routine harassment and abuse by their male counterparts and their bosses.

The women described Waterloo Regional Police as a “culture of misogyny.”

Also part of the claim and the advocacy group is retired regional police Supt. Barry Zehr, the husband of Sharon Zehr. He said he repeatedly spoke to police brass about systemic discrimination but nothing was done. He retired in April.

The three plaintiffs are leading the class-action suit on behalf of all female members of the local service. Total damages they are seeking amount to $167 million. The allegations in the suit have not been proven in court.

Lawyers for both sides appeared in a Brampton court on Sept. 25. Waterloo Regional Police Services Board and the Waterloo Regional Police Association put forward documents to support their claim that the courts have no jurisdiction to deal with the case.

An affidavit by current police association president Mark Egers says issues arising between employee and the employer are governed by the collective agreement.

In a statement, the police service said it does not condone or tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin said some of the allegations date back to 1988 and only came to the attention of the service now. He said other allegations were investigated and dealt with appropriately.

Doug Elliott, lead lawyer for the suit, said Justice Deena Baltman will hear arguments on jurisdictional issues as well as the issue of certifying the suit as a class-action suit.

Elliott said the plaintiffs are speaking for all female officers and need permission from a judge to represent others.

He said every female officer is automatically part of the case at the beginning, but they can opt out of the suit.

Elliott said he has not heard

from any female officers with Waterloo Regional Police who wish to opt out of the lawsuit.

Instead, he said he has heard from many female officers who are glad the lawsuit is going ahead, and from female officers “who are very fearful of being identified with this case because of fear of retaliation.”

“The system is broken. In fact, there have been no formal grievances from women ever in the history of Waterloo Regional Police,” Elliott said.

The reason for this is that the “collective bargaining system is so broken that women are not using it to address problems of sex discrimination,” he said.

“I don’t think Waterloo is unique. The police work environment is especially bad,” said Elliott, referring to a traditional male-dominated environment.

The next court date is June 2018 in Brampton. Elliott said he expects the judge will reserve her decision and release it next fall.