Report details harassment, mental health concerns, retaliation
The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) operated a “poisoned work environment” with intimidation and reprisals, a report from the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) has found.
The findings, released after a six-year investigation and obtained by CBC News, describe a toxic workplace where harassment wasn’t adequately addressed and management opposed police officers seeking mental health support.
The OCPC report, obtained through a freedom of information request, substantiated allegations that harassment investigations at the Whitby, Ont.-based DRPS were marred by bias and poor record-keeping. The report also found that “perceived favouritism, cronyism, and/or paybacks” impacted DRPS operations and that investigations into workplace harassment, violence, and sexual misconduct “lacked independence and thoroughness.” The commission heard evidence of “intimidation, divisiveness and dismissive attitudes toward mental health concerns.”
Toxic workplace concerns, mental health claims opposed
The OCPC noted that DRPS members “described humiliation and ostracism after raising concerns.” Witnesses alleged interference in professional standards investigations and expressed a belief that promotions weren’t based on merit, and some workplace harassment investigations reportedly included invasive and irrelevant questions.
The report also described how the DRPS “vigorously opposed virtually every application to the WSIB for presumptive PTSD” following 2016 provincial legislation intended to support first responders with mental health issues. If a finding of PTSD was made, “the service appealed it,” according to the report.
The OCPC accused both the DRPS and its board of obstructing the investigation by refusing to cooperate and delaying the process in court. The report highlighted a case where a justice ordered the service to pay $65,000 to the OCPC, paid with taxpayer funds. The board and DRPS were also blamed for “an unjustified significant expenditure of taxpayer funds in resisting and obstructing a lawful investigation.”
The report lists 33 recommendations, including ensuring members can “report misconduct without fear of reprisal,” creating a new policy to maintain the integrity of promotions, and retaining records of interviews conducted by “respect in the workplace investigators.”
DRPS chief, board ‘committed’ to report’s recommendations
In a statement, DRPS Chief Peter Moreira said, “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.”
The DRPS board said in its own statement that it has taken steps to ensure accountability and transparency, noting that the investigation started seven years ago and that “much has changed at the DRPS and the board over this period of time.”
Moreira in his statement said that, since he became chief in 2023, “the board and command team have implemented significant reforms to enhance both internal and external trust” and “to strengthen accountability and transparency.”
