Controversy has haunted IIO from its start in 2012

B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office, a civilian oversight agency launched in 2012, has been dogged by controversy.

As previously reported by The Province, B.C.’s Public Service Agency is probing a number of complaints against Richard Rosenthal and the IIO, which independently investigates alleged offences by police officers.

Since Rosenthal launched B.C.’s watchdog in September 2012, the IIO has been in constant turmoil because of leadership problems and accelerating staff turnover, according to sources and to documents obtained previously by The Province.

After an August 2013 internal survey of 30 staff members, the organization identified claims of “significant issues and concerns with highlevel leadership.”

The problems increased through late 2014, current and former IIO officers told The Province. An increasing volume of complaints against Rosenthal forced Deputy Attorney General Richard Fyfe to probe allegations of bullying and harassment, sources said.

B.C.’s top justice officials haven’t commented on the allegations and the IIO has declined to comment.

Anonymous sources still employed at the IIO said they believe Fyfe and the agency are probing specific complaints — none of which have been proven — including that Rosenthal:

“Arbitrarily” fired a number of staff, and two of the firings were being investigated;

Openly compared the RCMP with “corrupt” police officers he probed in the U.S. and spoke negatively about senior IIO officers;

Has been provided executive coaching and allegedly insisted managers also receive coaching “so he could share the blame.”

Sources said that a “highly skilled and well-liked director” was fired after the director completed a needed reorganization.”

Sources also believe staff morale has fallen since spring 2014 when Rosenthal hired a new chief of investigations who has faced a number of employee complaints in the U.K.