Racist comments by RCMP officers in Coquitlam condemned, while C-IRG actions remain unresolved
Video still of Sleydo’ being arrested by the C-IRG, November 2021.
CBC reports: “B.C.’s public safety minister [Mike Farnworth] has condemned the alleged conduct of Coquitlam RCMP officers accused of making racist, homophobic and sexist comments in a private online chat group.”
That article adds: “CBC News revealed details Friday [September 20] of the allegations contained in a search warrant seeking the evidence that led to disciplinary proceedings against three Mounties — which include joking about Tasering unarmed black people and mocking sexual assault and domestic violence victims.”
CTV highlights that the three RCMP officers are now facing dismal for these alleged violations of the RCMP’s Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct is a short Schedule with a Statement of Objectives that notes: “Members treat every person with respect and courtesy and do not engage in discrimination or harassment.”
While deployments of the RCMP Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) – now rebranded as the Critical Response Unit (CRU-BC) – involve officers from across the province, it is not known if these officers have been part of C-IRG operations.
And despite the serious allegations against the C-IRG (outlined below), Amanda Follett Hosgood of The Tyee found from documents obtained through freedom of information laws that BC’s Ministry of Public Safety allocated $36 million in November 2022 to the C-IRG for “police response to unlawful protests.”
Racist comments by RCMP on Facebook groups
In August 2020, APTN reported: “Multiple private Facebook groups featuring racist comments by former and current members of the RCMP – and first exposed by APTN News two years ago – are still thriving despite a promise from the commissioner to deal with them.”
“These Facebook groups are still thriving with thousands of members and hundreds of comments.”
That article also notes: “Several members had comments during the rail blockades in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation which was at odds with the RCMP in British Columbia over a pipeline that is scheduled to be built on their unceded territory.”
“Localized harassment”
In February 2021, an article in The Narwhal quotes Wet’suwet’en land defender Sleydo’ who said: “[The RCMP are] patrolling all the roads. You could get pulled over at any point in time for no reason at all. If you go anywhere, they’re going to follow you. …I just get so mad and frustrated because we’re living with it every day.”
That article then quotes Carleton University professor Jeffrey Monaghan “who told The Narwhal there’s systemic racism in the RCMP and the ‘localized harassment’ happening on Wet’suwet’en territory is common. ‘I would characterize it as petty, retaliatory attacks.'”
“Improper attitude” complaints against the C-IRG
In November 2023, CBC Fifth Estate reported: “In Fairy Creek, where mass arrests took place over the spring and into the fall of 2021, C-IRG was the subject of 265 complaints. Of those, 114 fell within the CRCC’s [Civilian Review and Complaints Commission] mandate. So far, the RCMP has reviewed fewer than half — 54 in total. Those 54 complaints include 181 allegations, the majority claiming improper use of force, improper attitude and neglect of duty. The RCMP did not support or terminated 155 of the 181 allegations. The CRCC is reviewing only six complaints from Fairy Creek.”
No Code of Conduct hearings for C-IRG officers
That Fifth Estate article adds: “John Brewer, a former commander with C-IRG [said] there have been no Criminal Code or code of conduct or disciplinary hearings held as a result of any public complaints against C-IRG.”
Abuse of process hearings
In January 2024, during an abuse of process application on RCMP C-IRG violations of the rights of Indigenous land defenders on Wet’suwet’en territory, CBC reported: “RCMP officers referred to First Nations pipeline opponents as “orcs” and “ogre” during a police raid at a blockade of Coastal GasLink pipeline construction in November 2021, according to audio recordings played in court Wednesday [January 17].”
That article adds: “Sleydo’ and [Gitxsan land defender Shaylynn] Sampson both were wearing red dresses and had red handprints painted over their mouths on Nov.19, 2021, when they were arrested. Red dresses and handprints are both symbols for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.”
In September 2024, during the second hearing related to the abuse of process application, CBC reported: “[Ken Floyd, the former Bronze commander of the C-IRG] said that though he was ashamed by the comments made by the officers and believes they are wrong, because the comments were not said to the accused, it did not interfere with their rights and how they were subsequently treated in custody.”
The next court dates in this abuse of process application are expected to be November 4-8 and December 9-13.
CRCC systemic investigation
On March 9, 2023, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) initiated a systemic investigation into “the activities and operations” of the C-IRG.
That investigation includes “a comprehensive file review to assess whether or to what extent the activities and operations of the C-IRG are carried out in accordance with legal standards, policy requirements, and leading practices.”
The CBC has reported: “More than 100 grievances accepted for investigation contain allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and charter violations by the force’s Community-Industry Response Group.”
More than 18 months after the launch of the investigation, it is unclear when it will be completed and the results made public.
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: The Toxic Culture of the RCMP: Misogyny, Racism, and Violence against Women in Canada’s National Police Force (Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action report, September 2022).
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