B.C. minister ‘disgusted’ by RCMP officers’ alleged chats

WARNING: This story contains offensive language.

B.C.’s public safety minister has condemned the alleged conduct of Coquitlam RCMP officers accused of making racist, homophobic and sexist comments in a private online chat group.

CBC News revealed details Friday 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.

Graphic examples allegedly drawn from both a Signal messaging app chat group and the RCMP’s own records are contained in a search warrant obtained to access data on the phone of an officer who complained about what he called the “atrocious” behaviour of colleagues.

Constables Philip Dick, Ian Solven and Mersad Mesbah are facing termination and have been suspended since June 2021. Their code of conduct hearings have been adjourned until March of next year.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, who is running for re-election in the Port Coquitlam riding where the Mounties worked, says he was “absolutely disgusted” by the comments detailed in the document.

“I think what it says about the individuals involved [is] that’s not the culture that we expect of police officers, it’s not the culture that that the RCMP expects. It’s absolutely unacceptable,” he said. 

“It’s not a culture we expect or accept anywhere, frankly.”

A review of comments made on RCMP computers includes statements like, “Why do brown guys have unusually high-pitched voices.” “As an idiot woman would say … ‘toxic,'” and, “I just racially profile pulled over a car.”

In response to calls for a review of all the cases that the three officers handled, Farnworth said the RCMP would do a comprehensive investigation of the case.

“My deputy, the director of police services, they continue the work of the ministry, the work of government while in an election campaign,” he said. “I have absolutely no doubt the director of police services will be following up with [RCMP] E Division on this.”

The National Police Federation, which represents RCMP officers nationwide, refused to comment for this story when reached by CBC News.

Domestic violence advocate unsurprised

Among the details contained in the search warrant are allegations one of the officers facing discipline joked outside the chat group about a domestic violence victim, calling her “a dumb f–king bitch, should’ve worn a mouth guard.”

Angela Marie MacDougall, the executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services, said the comments were “unfortunately, all too predictable” and would discourage women in domestic violence situations from coming forward to police.

“We know that many RCMP members, we see that in our own work, harbour ideas that are not conducive to effective investigations and to caring about victims and survivors,” she told CBC News.

“And this disclosure, this information, is confirming that.”

MacDougall said that she doesn’t think it’s a good idea to invest any more resources in policing in order to deal with intimate partner violence and sexual violence, and funds should be redirected to community organizations like transition houses and victim services instead.

Professor says recruiting needs improvement

Rick Parent, a retired associate professor at Simon Fraser University and former Delta Police Department officer, said the issue revealed by the alleged conversations highlights how recruiting has become a “big problem” for B.C. police forces.

“Police agencies are running short. They’re competing with other police agencies for good people,” he said. “And sometimes they hire people that shouldn’t be police officers. And that’s kind of the reality.”

Parent said there needs to be a review of all the cases that the officers worked on and that the vast majority of officers in the Coquitlam RCMP were doing a good job.

“Ultimately, it’s recruiting,” he said. “Because past behaviour is a predictor of future behaviour. And … you can only change so much, and you can only supervise so much.”

A lawyer for Solven did not return an email requesting comment, and the other officers could not be reached.

A spokesperson for the RCMP declined to comment on the allegations while they are before a conduct board hearing.