Calgary police workplace culture will improve for women, mayor and chief pledge

Calgary's mayor and police chief say work is ongoing to improve the workplace culture of the police service, in particular for female officers, many of whom have raised concerns in a 2013 internal report and privately to a female city councillor.

"You're talking about a culture of policing that is decades and decades old, and we're redirecting the ship but it doesn't happen overnight," Chief Roger Chaffin said during a news conference Tuesday.

"There's work to be done, but these things are happening."

The news conference was called in the wake of recent allegations of workplace bullying, harassment and intimidation raised by female officers.

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The concerns were outlined in a partially redacted 2013 workplace review document that recently surfaced, outlining a Calgary Police Service (CPS) that some viewed as an "Old Boys Network."

Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart also recently revealed that numerous female officers came to her directly with concerns because they had a "significant feeling of retribution and fear" if other police officers were to find out about their complaints.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi described the allegations as "so troubling" because they're "not consistent with the CPS that we know."

He also said he's reassured by the progress the police service has made since the 2013 report was written.

"Everything you've heard today from that report from years ago were taken seriously at the time and are taken seriously now," he said.

The mayor also challenged Colley-Urquhart's assertion that recommendations from the three-year-old report were never implemented. Quite to the contrary, the mayor said the police commission received a report this past June outlining in detail the progress that has been made since 2013.

"Everyone has the right to speak," Nenshi said, in reference to Colley-Urqhart's public comments on the matter.

He quickly added: "When I speak out, I try to do so in a way that doesn't cause more harm than good."

22 complaints this year

The CPS employs about 3,000 people, of whom roughly 2,100 are sworn officers.

Kathleen Fraser, a respectful workplace advisor who has been working with the CPS since January, said she has received 22 reports of alleged misconduct from both male and female members, one of which was related to sexual harassment or bullying.

"Let me be clear. Every single employee must feel safe at work; every single situation must be handled fairly," the mayor said.

He later added: "There are some challenges in a paramilitary-style organization in doing that, but it's possible to do and it will be done."