The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) in southern Ontario was a toxic workplace where officials failed to adequately address harassment and management aggressively fought officers seeking mental health support, according to newly released records.
The findings by investigators are included in the Ontario Civilian Police Commission’s (OCPC) report into the workplace culture, policies and procedures of the DRPS and its board. The report and a summary of the document were obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request.
Investigators substantiated allegations that “a poisoned work environment was created at the DRPS,” according to the report. Workplace harassment investigations, though guided by “sound” policies, were marred by bias and shoddy record-keeping, it says.
Peter Brauti, a lawyer for current and former DRPS members whose complaints sparked the investigation, said he was disappointed in the lack of detail in the heavily censored report.
“These were multiple people within the organization that literally had their lives ruined by certain individuals [who] weren’t held accountable,” Brauti told CBC News. “I’m sure that they’re sitting there thinking, ‘Why did I bother coming forward at all?’”
Board says it’s taken steps to address concerns
The DRPS is headquartered in Whitby and serves several municipalities in Durham Region just east of Toronto.
According to the OCPC report, in November 2018, Brauti wrote to the deputy minister of community safety and correctional services, and made allegations of “favouritism, cronyism, reprisals and criminal activity at the highest levels” of the DRPS.
He included letters from four complainants, all current or former members of the police service.
The OCPC launched its investigation in May 2019 and interviewed about 80 witnesses. The commission finished its report in July. Since then, the document has remained secret and the OCPC has dissolved in accordance with new provincial policing legislation.
Durham police’s chief says he and the board have urged the OCPC to release its findings. (CBC News)
CBC News previously reported the OCPC shared its findings with only the DRPS, the service’s board and the province’s solicitor general.
In a prepared statement, DRPS Chief Peter Moreira said he and the board have urged the OCPC to release its findings.
“While the OCPC report focused on a period of time under a completely different leadership team, my command team and I are committed to learning from the report and its recommendations,” he said.
The board said in a statement it has taken several steps to ensure accountability and transparency.
“The investigation covered by this report began seven years ago. The allegations in many cases go back a decade. Much has changed at the DRPS and the board over this period of time.”
‘Perceived favouritism, cronyism’ impacted operations
The report and an executive summary describe investigators’ findings and the beliefs of DRPS members about their workplace.
The findings in the executive summary include:
- The DRPS board failed to adequately scrutinize the hiring of senior officers.
- Investigations of workplace harassment, violence and sexual harassment or misconduct “lacked independence and thoroughness.”
- There was “evidence of intimidation, divisiveness and dismissive attitudes toward mental health concerns.”
- Investigators found “perceived favouritism, cronyism, and/or paybacks” impacted DRPS operations.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General, which released the records to CBC News, said in a letter that the deletions were necessary for several reasons, including the protection of personal information.
Despite redactions to the report, it contains references to serious misconduct, including someone, whose identity was withheld, who did not inform the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) that one member had sexually assaulted another.
The DRPS is headquartered in Whitby, Ont. (Doug Ives/The Canadian Press)
A section of the summary dealing with the claim of a poisoned work environment notes that DRPS members “described humiliation and ostracism after raising concerns.” Witnesses also alleged interference in professional standards investigations, described a strong belief that promotions within the service were not based on merit, and said workplace harassment investigations included invasive and irrelevant questions.
Reached by phone Tuesday, police association president Andrew Tummonds declined to comment.
“We’re still dealing with our lawyers to see where we’re gonna go,” Tummonds said.
PTSD claims fought by service, report says
The report describes 2016 legislation intended to grant first responders experiencing mental health problems faster access to support and treatment by establishing a presumption that their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is job-related.
The report notes that while employers supported the legislation, “the commission heard considerable evidence that the service took the opposite stance and vigorously opposed virtually every application to the WSIB for presumptive PTSD.”
“If a finding of PTSD was made, the service appealed it,” the report claims.
The report accuses both the DRPS and the board of obstructing the OCPC by refusing to co-operate with investigators and bogging the commission down in court.
It highlights one instance of a justice ordering the service to pay $65,000 to the OCPC, adding that the expense was ultimately covered by taxpayers. The report also blames the board for declining to grant the OCPC prompt access to documentation.
After previous reporting by CBC News that the DRPS and the board had spent about $2 million on legal expenses since the OCPC investigation began, the report blames the board and the DRPS “for an unjustified significant expenditure of taxpayer funds in resisting and obstructing a lawful investigation.”
Lawyer for complainants yet to see full report
The report lists 33 recommendations, including that the board and chief ensure members know they can “report misconduct without fear of reprisal,” that the board create a new policy to maintain the integrity of promotions, and that interviews conducted by “respect in the workplace investigators” be recorded and retained.
It is unclear if the report will be released more widely or with fewer redactions.
Brauti told CBC News he has only seen a censored copy of the report, which was given to him by a member of the public. He said he will continue to press on behalf of his clients for a full copy.
