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More than 400 RCMP members faced misconduct allegations in 2024: report
More than 400 RCMP members faced misconduct allegations in 2024, with five per cent of cases leading to dismissal, according to a report released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in late January .
The principal findings, say the RCMP, show that: less than two per cent of all members were involved in the conduct process; “discreditable conduct” remains the most reported contravention; and there is a trend towards more serious disciplinary outcomes.
It should be noted that RCMP members include police officers and civilian members who support police operations. The Code of Conduct applies to both, on- and off-duty, within and outside of Canada.
In 2024, 443 conduct files were opened, “marking a return to a consistent level compared to the pandemic years,” according to the report. The numbers dipped between 2021 and 2023, when the RCMP’s case counts dropped.
Ultimately, in 2024, there were 408 RCMP members across all ranks alleged to have contravened the police service’s Code of Conduct. (There are 21,641 RCMP members.)
Conduct allegations were proportional to the number of any rank in the service. For example, constables represented 54 per cent of the overall membership but accounted for 61 per cent of misconduct cases, a slight over-representation relative to their share of the force. Corporals (17 per cent), sergeants (10 per cent), and staff sergeants (4 per cent) each accounted for a proportion of misconduct cases directly in line with their share of the membership. Members with the rank of inspectors and above represented 4 per cent of the misconduct case compared to 3 per cent of the workforce, a slight over-representation.
Civilian members accounted for only 3 per cent of the misconduct cases, while comprising 12 per cent of the membership.
In 2024, discreditable conduct continued to represent the largest number of allegations. According to the report, that encompasses a wide range of behaviour. Some examples include improper posts on social media, sexual misconduct, and Criminal Code offences. (Full details about these allegations were not provided in the report. Nor were specific details provided about any other allegations set out in it.)
Frequently cited allegations, aside from discreditable conduct, included improper use of equipment, diligence in aid, conflict of interest, and failure to give and carry out lawful orders and direction. Allegations related to use of force, abuse of authority, and unauthorized access or use of information rounded out the top 10, says the RCMP.
Conduct authorities or boards (the latter involves lawyers) are responsible for initiating an investigation and determining if a member’s conduct has amounted to a contravention of the Code of Conduct. If it has, they impose conduct measures that “are appropriate to the nature and circumstances of the contravention.”
Measures to deal with the conduct “show a marked shift compared to previous years,” according to the RCMP report. “While remedial measures decreased significantly from 51 per cent in 2023 to 29 per cent in 2024, corrective (measures) rose to 42 per cent. More notable is the increase in the serious measures (24 per cent in 2024 versus 14 per cent in 2023) and dismissals (5 per cent in 2024 versus 1 per cent in 2023).”
This shows a trend toward “more serious disciplinary outcomes, aligning with the RCMP’s emphasis on accountability and proportionate responses to misconduct,” states the report.
Compared to the two years prior, the number of demotions more than doubled in 2024. Demotion as a disciplinary measure holds members accountable while preserving the opportunity for rehabilitation and continued service.
Meanwhile, “interim administrative steps” may be taken while a member is the subject of conduct proceedings. They are designed to protect the well-being of employees and the integrity of the RCMP, pending the outcome of the Code of Conduct investigation. Some examples include stoppage of pay and allowances (which, according to the report, “remains rare”), suspension with pay (applied in 105 cases in 2024, a 47 per cent increase over the previous years) and temporary reassignment (the most frequently used measure, averaging 103 cases annually).
These disciplinary process reports derive from a 2008 Minister of Public Safety directive requiring the RCMP to provide annual data.
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