Commissioner seeks culture change
Misbehaving Mountie case represents ‘ sorry, sad and shameful set of facts’
The actions of an Alberta Mountie who engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour and sexual misconduct, as well as the punishment he received, represent a “sorry, sad and shameful set of facts,” the RCMP commissioner has told Postmedia News in a series of candid emails.
Bob Paulson said the case of Donald Ray — who was docked 10 days pay, given a formal reprimand, and demoted one rank from staff sergeant to sergeant — underscores a need to revamp the force’s disciplinary system, and that the force is pursuing legislative changes to make that happen.
“If I could change this case I would. I cannot,” he said. “What I can do is make sure that we get a system where this sort of frustration is eliminated.”
The force has come under fire since details of Ray’s disciplinary case — obtained by the Ottawa Citizen — came to light this week.
According to a three- member adjudication- board decision reached in January, Ray — a polygraph operator — engaged in a “disturbing pattern” of activity affecting a number of
If I could change this case I would. I cannot. What I can do is make sure that we get a system where this sort of frustration is eliminated.
BOB PAULSON
RCMP COMMISSIONER
women over a period of years. The activity included consuming alcohol at work and encouraging subordinates to join him; exposing himself to an employee and asking her to touch him; having sex with a woman in a polygraph suite at “K” Division headquarters during lunch breaks and after work; having sex with a woman in a parking lot; and calling a woman a “hottie” when he learned of her age and saying that she “must have a really good sex life with her husband or she must be having an affair” while commenting about her clothing.
Board members said the gravity of Ray’s misconduct was such that dismissal was at the “forefront” of their collective minds.
But the board decided against dismissal, swayed by a number of mitigating factors, including “strong” letters of support from colleagues, “sincere expressions of regret and remorse” from Ray, and his desire to admit the allegations “at the first available opportunity.”
In addition to docking his pay and demoting him, the panel recommended he be transferred and get counselling.
Ray, who is being transferred to B. C. and will be working in some kind of federal policing capacity, could not be reached for comment Thursday. The lawyer who represented him at his disciplinary hearing declined to comment.
British Columbia’s new top Mountie says he agreed last fall to accept the transfer of an Alberta officer with a disturbing history of sexual harassment into his “progressive” division.
Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens said at a press conference Thursday that Ray would be closely monitored and will be removed from duty if he reoffends.
Callens said Ray’s female coworkers need not be afraid and that more than 50 initiatives for dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct would be unveiled soon.
Former RCMP Const. Krista Carle, one of the first women to speak publicly last year about systemic harassment within the force, said she was disgusted with the outcome of Ray’s case. It shows an “old boy’s culture” is alive and well within the force, she said. “To transfer him to another province is utterly shameful. He should be encouraged to retire or forcibly removed from duty.”
A proposed class- action lawsuit alleging systemic discrimination and harassment against female members was filed in B. C. Supreme Court earlier this year.
The RCMP Public Complaints Commission is also probing whether the force has investigated harassment allegations in a thorough and impartial manner and whether RCMP guidelines for dealing with such allegations are adequate.
Carle said she thought things were going to change under the new commissioner. Following his appointment in mid- November, Paulson said the force would seek to mete out swift discipline — including dismissal — against officers who displayed “outrageous” conduct.
At the time, Paulson described “outrageous” conduct as including significant lying, cheating or stealing, deliberate excessive force, serious criminal conduct — “things that are obviously outrageous, that Canadians aren’t interested in sort of hearing an explanation about.”
“I really thought, ‘ Maybe they’ll get the big picture,’” Carle said.
Paulson said that the wheels of Ray’s disciplinary proceedings were already in motion before his appointment.
“The die was cast when the board took an agreed statement of facts and joint submissions on sanction in this case and that [ process] was initiated on the 1st of November,” he said.
Paulson said he does not have the authority to overrule a decision from an adjudication board.
“It would be improper and illegal, I’m told, to interfere at all in these processes because I am the last line of authority on the grievance chain. But what’s worse is that I cannot appeal, overturn or substitute a sanction upwards. … Believe me, I’ve tried.”