President Steve Walker

Statement of RCMP VA President concerning the death of retired RCMP Cst. Krista Carle

Royal Canadian Mounted Police  Veterans’ Association L’Association des anciens de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada

 

 

Ottawa, Ontario

July 11, 2018

RCMP Veterans across Canada were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of retired Constable Krista Carle on Vancouver Island this past weekend.

Ms. Carle spoke very personally and very publicly about the sexual harassment she endured during her service within the RCMP. She emerged as a strong and articulate advocate for change within the Force demanding that the culture of the organization be reformed to build a respectful workplace for all employees.

As an early supporter of the class-action lawsuit against the RCMP related to discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation, bullying, intimidation and harassment in the workplace, Ms. Carle shares credit with other female members for the success of the suit, which was decided in favour of the appellants in 2016, and which obligates the RCMP to adopt measures to change the organizational culture of the Force.

Ms. Carle also petitioned strongly for enhanced support for RCMP employees suffering from operational stress injuries including PTSD. The Association recognizes the challenges that officers and employees face that have the potential to affect their mental health and that of their families. We acknowledge and support the work being done within the RCMP and the investments made by Veterans Affairs Canada and the Ministry of Public Safety to support mental health of RCMP personnel and all first responders in Canada. That said, the toll upon officers and their families is significant, and this fact is tragically underscored by the increasing incidence of death by suicide of first responders in Canada. More needs to be done to comprehend and address the contributing factors, to reverse this disturbing and fatal trend.

As members of the RCMP Veterans’ Association, we proudly acknowledge Ms. Carle’s service to Canada and we respectfully extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Carle’s family at this difficult time.

As an early supporter of the class-action lawsuit against the RCMP related to discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation, bullying, intimidation and harassment in the workplace, Ms. Carle shares credit with other female members for the success of the suit, which was decided in favour of the appellants in 2016, and which obligates the RCMP to adopt measures to change the organizational culture of the Force

Ms. Carle also petitioned strongly for enhanced support for RCMP employees suffering from operational stress injuries including PTSD. The Association recognizes the challenges that officers, and employees face that have the potential to affect their mental health and that of their families. We acknowledge and support the work being done within the RCMP and the investments made by Veterans Affairs Canada and the Ministry of Public Safety to support mental health of RCMP personnel and all first responders in Canada. That said, the toll upon officers and their families is significant, and this fact is tragically underscored by the increasing incidence of death by suicide of first responders in Canada. More needs to be done to comprehend and address the contributing factors, to reverse this disturbing and fatal trend.

As members of the RCMP Veterans’ Association, we proudly acknowledge Ms. Carle’s service to Canada and we respectfully extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Carle’s family at this difficult time.

Steve Walker

President

RCMP Veterans’ Association

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