The new Commissioner has her hands full with the recent new billion dollar class action lawsuit. The question from Canadians is the RCMP broken and on the verge of destruction? She says no. I have to disagree. There are certainly signs of a broken culture that has left many victims in the wake of workplace dysfunction and poor leadership. Many who suffer with PTSD and suicide. What would they say? The RCMP needs outside agencies that specialize in areas of addressing the problems that currently plague the organization.
“Canada’s new police commissioner says the RCMP needs to evolve, but she insists her police service is not broken. Commissioner Brenda Lucki was this morning’s guest speaker at the Mayor’s Breakfast Series at City Hall, where she spoke about the importance of leaders being surrounded by people with differing opinions and viewpoints.”
Historically asking for outside help and differing opinions than those in leadership roles was not allowed and even discouraged. It was the RCMP way or get out of the way. The ‘you are with us or against us’ mentality. Bumping up against dysfunctional bosses ruined many careers and allowed the systemic bullying and sexual harassment problems to continue. This is a new era of asking for outside help from people not poisoned by the ‘old boys network of dysfunction’
“If I’m surrounded by bobbleheads that always say ‘yes commissioner, no commissioner,’ there’s going to be a lot of not-so-good decisions that are going to be made,” Lucki told the gathered business leaders.
“Lucki has been hired to modernize a police service that has struggled with sexual harassment within its ranks, and its treatment of Indigenous people. She admits, the RCMP needs to change, but stands by the force.”
Like any change in a behavior and in this case an organization 145 years old with deeply embedded workplace cultural practices, it is going to take time. Can we change people? Not really but what we can do is create awareness, accountability and education on the benefits of a respectful, violent free workplace. Sometimes with knowledge there can be a shift in mindset. People need to speak up!
“Don’t ask me how to fix the RCMP, because — first of all — you’re telling me it’s broken,” said Lucki. “I am here to tell all of you…we’re not broken.”
Is the RCMP broken? Depends who you ask. I feel that there are many good officers ,who come to work everyday, to serve and protect Canadians. My concern is for the victims, those who continue to suffer and their journey. Yes there are huge obstacles to overcome and with outside help, the right leadership anything is possible.
https://www.ottawamatters.com/local-news/rcmp-doesnt-need-fixing-according-to-new-commissioner-974798