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RCMP brass field questions over tensions between force and women

Despite concerns raised by community members following the arrest of a sexual assault victim last year, the commanding officer for the RCMP G Division says Mounties have a positive relationship with women and women’s groups in Yellowknife and throughout the territory.

Chief Supt. Jamie Zettler, joined by Supt. Amanda Jones, the criminal operations officer at G Division, addressed the Standing Committee on Social Development at the legislative assembly on Tuesday, presenting to members on a wide range of topics, from small community policing to sexual assault investigation training.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green, who has been outspoken about her concern over the victim’s May 2017 arrest, zeroed in on the incident when addressing Zettler.

“I’ve asked lots of questions in the Assembly to the Justice Minister about the relationship between the RCMP and women, which wasn’t great. And then the woman was taken to the cells. I think at that point, the trust between women and the RCMP may have declined even further,” said Green.

She asked Zettler what’s being done on the RCMP’s end to “rebuild that relationship of trust.”

“I don’t necessarily agree we have a poor relationship with women,” Zettler responded. “Our members are engaged with many of the women’s groups in the territory, not only in Yellowknife, but throughout NWT. The feedback I’ve received from the various communities I visit and talk to talk about a positive relationship.”

“We continue to work with them, reviewing our policies to make sure people feel comfortable coming to us,” he added.

But Zettler did identify areas which the force must “continue to move the bar forward.”

“We are committed as an organization … to be open to criticism, to take a look at our policies and procedures and to make improvements where we can,” said Zettler.

After a 2017 Globe and Mail article revealed that police forces across the country were closing a quarter of all sexual assault complaints as 'unfounded,' Zettler said G Division has moved to thoroughly examine new 'unfounded' sexual assault cases.

Zettler added that NWT-wide policies have been introduced, such as the “process of taking statements, including trauma impacted statements courses.”

All G Division members are required to complete a common sexual assault course. In recent years, Zettler said more than 20 officers have completed more advanced sexual assault investigation training.

He said other concerns raised by Green are being explored, including whether G Division will be implementing third party reviews and third party reporting - when someone other than the victim reports. Zettler stressed those options need to be mesh well with NWT’s unique justification.

“For us and the community to have trust in those processes, it needs to work here,” said Zettler.