Kennebecasis police culture must change, chief says
Karissa Donkin | CBC News | Posted: July 18, 2017 9:00 AM | Last Updated: July 18, 2017
Chief Steve Palmer says allegations within police force are symptoms of larger issues in policing
Allegations of intimidation, sexual harassment and obstruction within the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force are signs of an "organizational failure," says the police chief.
Steve Palmer, who was appointed chief in November, says the force's "internal culture" needs to change.
It is extremely disappointing to think that we didn't do a very good job with our own people. - Steve Palmer, Kennebecasis police chief
He believes the allegations that have plagued his police force are symptoms of larger issues within policing.
"We as a profession are going to have to reconsider how we recruit people, how we hire them, how we train them and how we promote them," Palmer said in an interview from his Quispamsis office.
"If we keep using the same outdated criteria we always use, nothing is going to change."
Senior manager under investigation
One of the force's senior managers, Insp. Jeff Porter, is under criminal investigation for alleged intimidation, sexual harassment and obstruction involving a female civilian employee.
- Kennebecasis officer under criminal investigation for alleged sexual harassment
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Porter, a 29-year veteran of the force, has been on leave with pay for more than a year because of the alleged offences, which also include mischief.
None of the allegations against him have been proven. Porter, through his lawyer, declined to comment, citing the need for confidentiality during the investigations.
Palmer's predecessor, Stephen McIntyre, retired in November, four days after a scathing report that said he failed to investigate the Porter matter when it was brought to his attention.
The report found McIntyre breached 23 different sections of the police code, including abuse of authority and harassment.
McIntyre told CBC News the timing of his retirement was not connected to the release of the report.
Workplace culture rated 5 out of 10
Palmer, who has been with the force since 1983, will retire in March.
In the meantime, Palmer said, he's trying to use his short stint in the force's top job to change the atmosphere for employees.
He started by unlocking the door to management offices. Officers had to ask to be buzzed in to talk to a manager.
"Of all the things I've probably done, that may have been the most significant," he said.
Management used to be entirely male. But under Palmer's watch, two female officers have been appointed as inspectors. He's also working on an ethics policy.
By the time I leave, hopefully we'll be where we should be. - Steve Palmer, chief of Kennebecasis police
A year and a half ago, when he was deputy chief, Palmer would have rated the police force's workplace culture as a five out of 10.
Now, he thinks it would be a seven or an eight out of 10.
"By the time I leave, hopefully we'll be where we should be."
Would do things differently
Palmer wouldn't talk about the specifics of the allegations against Porter or the role he played when a female officer came to him with concerns about Porter's treatment of a civilian employee.
He also wouldn't comment on how the former chief handled the investigation, but said he "absolutely" would do things differently if similar allegations were presented to him as chief.
Palmer admitted it's been difficult to see the force's internal issues aired publicly, describing it as embarrassing and disappointing.
For the past several years, the force has poured resources into preventing domestic violence.
Stands behind officers' work
But the way the force handled an internal situation, "seems to have ignored all policy, protocol and common sense," a female officer wrote in her complaint, accusing the former chief of failing to deal with the allegations against Porter in an appropriate manner.
Palmer said he remains confident in the work his officers do with the public.
"However, it is extremely disappointing to think that we didn't do a very good job with our own people," he said.
A new chief will be chosen by the force's board of police commissioners, made up of civilians and councillors from Rothesay and Quispamsis.
Palmer hopes someone with a diverse background and good communication skills will be chosen as his replacement.
Rothesay deputy mayor Matt Alexander, who chairs the board of police commissioners, declined to comment, describing the situation as a personnel matter.
"To protect the integrity of any investigation, the privacy of the individuals involved in any investigation, and to ensure balanced, thorough, and fair investigations, the board provides no comment with respect to investigations," Alexander wrote in an email.