Court Documents Reveal Toxic Work Environment for Surrey Police Officers

Court documents submitted in the City of Surrey's legal challenge against the transition from the RCMP to a municipal police force have revealed allegations of harassment and disrespect faced by Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers. Lawyers for the Surrey Police Union argue that SPS officers were subjected to a toxic work environment created by their RCMP colleagues during the transition period.

Why this matters: The allegations of harassment and toxic work environment have significant implications for public safety and trust in law enforcement. If left unaddressed, these issues could lead to a breakdown in policing services and compromise the safety of Surrey's citizens.

According to a respectful workplace investigation summary by SPS Insp. Bal Brach, 12 Surrey officers reported 50 incidents of harassment and/or disrespectful behavior by RCMP members. The report alleges that some RCMP supervisors engaged in an ongoing scheme of disrespect and harassment, negatively reporting on SPS officers deployed alongside them.

The incidents detailed in the report include a Surrey officer of mixed race being subjected to a racial slur and another officer witnessing two Mounties playing a racialized and discriminatory game that mocked a Black male suspect. Other SPS members complained of being publicly ridiculed, intimidated, or ostracized whileworking with the Surrey RCMP.

Union lawyer Sebastian Anderson stated, "In spite of complaints being made to both WorkSafeBC and Labour Canada, both governmental agencies have declined jurisdiction — WorkSafeBC because the work sites are federally regulated and Labour Canada because the employees are provincially regulated." The jurisdictional issues have hampered efforts by the union's lawyers to have the matters investigated.

The allegations have come to light as part of the City of Surrey's petition for judicial review, challenging the province's decision to compel the city to transition to the SPS. City lawyers argue that the province nullified voters' Charter right to freedom of expression, as they had elected Mayor Brenda Locke on a pledge to keep the RCMP in Surrey.

However, the province maintains that the Police Act is clear on cities' long-standing obligation to bear their own policing costs. Provincial lawyer Trevor Bant revealed that both the city and province had serious concerns about the impact on policing if the transition issue was not resolved quickly. A confidential report by Surrey city staff in June acknowledged potential serious problems with policing if Surrey did not have a solid plan to return to the RCMP.

The province feared that nearly half of the SPS's 734 officers might not remain in their jobs while awaiting release from the RCMP to join the municipal force. This could lead to the RCMP having to hire replacements, potentially destabilizing police forces in Surrey and other cities in British Columbia.

As the court hearing concluded on May 3, Justice Kevin Loo reserved his decision on Surrey's petition. The allegations of harassment and a toxic work environment between the RCMP and SPS officers underscore the complex challenges and public safety concerns surrounding thepolicing transition in Surrey. With the city set to be formally policed by the SPS from November, the court's ruling will have significant implications for the future of policing in one of Canada's largest and fastest-growing cities.

Key Takeaways

• Allegations of harassment and disrespect faced by Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers from RCMP colleagues.
• 12 SPS officers reported 50 incidents of harassment and/or disrespectful behavior by RCMP members.
• Incidents include racial slurs, public ridicule, and intimidation, creating a toxic work environment.
• Jurisdictional issues have hampered efforts to investigate the allegations.
• Court ruling on Surrey's petition will have significant implications for policing in the city.