Councillors in lawsuit should step down, say residents

WATERLOO REGION — Some Cambridge residents are asking that councillors Frank Monteiro and Mike Mann step down because both retired officers are part of allegations in a pending class-action lawsuit.

In a Facebook group called ‘Cambridge Citizen Discussion on local politics,’ some residents say the two men should resign their seats on council because they are named by plaintiffs alleging gender discrimination and sexual harassment at Waterloo Regional Police.

Margaret Barr of Cambridge said the two councillors should step down until the lawsuit is settled.

“They should take a leave. I’m not asking for their resignation,” said Barr, who suggested the men can put their names on the ballot again during the municipal elections slated for October.

“Do the honourable thing and step down,” she said. “These are serious allegations and for the good of the city and the accountability of taxpayers, let the people decide if you should be let back in.”

The class-action suit is led by six plaintiffs who allege the police service and the police board are part of a culture of sexual harassment and misogyny.

The plaintiffs include three current police officers, two former officers and a retired superintendent. Only one officer is on active duty.

The plaintiffs are Sgt. Karin Eder, Sgt. Shelley Heinrich, Const. Angelina Rivers, former constable Vera MacKenzie, former constable Sharon Zehr and retired superintendent Barry Zehr. Zehr, who retired last April, is married to Sharon Zehr.

The allegations in the suit have not been proven in court. Total damages being sought amount to $167 million.

The claim says the officers were routinely harassed, mocked and bullied by male colleagues and supervisors. When they spoke up to supervisors and their union, they felt dismissed and isolated.

In her affidavit, Eder says Monteiro “came up behind me in the lunch room and lifted my skirt over my waist, revealing my under garments, in front of several officers.”

Eder says Monteiro referred to female genitalia as “split tails.”

Other officers are also named in the suit. In one case, an allegation is made against a current superintendent, Supt. Pat Dietrich, who allegedly sent a photograph of his penis to Eder and asked for a photo of her in return. She refused.

The officer said she went to then Deputy Chief Mike Mann about the superintendent’s behaviour.

The officer said Mann urged her to make a formal complaint but when she asked what would happen, he, along with other officers and service employees, said the officer would likely get a warning and that would be it.

“While Mann advised me that Dietrich would not be involved in any transfer meetings where my future was discussed, to the best of my knowledge, he continued to participate in every transfer meeting where my transfers have always been denied,” Eder said in her affidavit.

In the affidavit of another plaintiff, Vera MacKenzie, who quit the police, said she was called a derogatory term by a senior officer. She said Monteiro, who also worked with the officer, said the offensive comment was the supervisor’s favourite word.

Contacted on Thursday, both Monteiro and Mann said it would be inappropriate to comment as the allegations are before the courts.

“When the time comes, I would like to explain myself,” Monteiro said.

Monteiro said he supports women coming forward with allegations of misconduct.

“I encourage women to come forward and speak up,” he said.

“I look forward to the opportunity when I can give my side of the story,” Mann said on Thursday.

“The public needs to look at this in the full context,” he said.