Review of police finds low morale, leadership concerns

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This article was published 12/06/2021 (1756 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A third-party review of the Winnipeg Police Service has found a rank and file which has low morale, significant concerns with the police chief’s ability to lead, and an organizational culture which impacts mental health.

Those are some of the determinations contained in the 16-page report released Friday.

WPS Chief Danny Smyth said the results were “humbling.”

Coun. Marcus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said it is not calling for the chief’s resignation.

Winnipeg Police Association union president Moe Sabourin said the results show what he has said for months is true. He believes the chief will be unable to repair the divisions.

“It’s my personal opinion, but what leader of an organization would be able to continue to lead after reading a report so scathing of his leadership?” Sabourin said Friday.

“Our people are hurting and they need support… this is negatively effecting the services to the citizens. But I will continue to work with him.”

The survey was approved by the union and WPS earlier this year, in the wake of the suicide death of a police officer.

Compiled by Prof. Lisa Kitt, a registered psychologist at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, and psychology and research Prof. Nathalie Gagnon, it contains the responses of more than 1,100 sworn police officers and 360 citizen members. (A response rate of 80 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively.)

Before the survey was finished, the Winnipeg Police Board announced in March that Smyth’s contract, set to expire Nov. 30, had been extended to Nov. 30, 2023.

When members were asked in the survey about morale and to describe it in a single word, the most common ones were: toxic, frustrating, stressful, good, challenging and depressing.

Asked where they felt support came from, the highest rating was for “my peers;” the lowest was “executive management”.

One unnamed officer quoted in the report said: “The total lack of support from the majority of our executive, specifically the chief, has a strong negative effect on morale.”

The survey found 41 per cent of civilian members and 32 per cent of officers report having been the victim of workplace harassment or bullying in the last three years.

It also found officers said what gives them the most stress is “current events/political movements” and “public opinion.”

On Friday, Smyth said: “There’s no other way to put it, it is a pretty humbling experience to read through that and to hear some of the commentary.”

“Workplace safety and wellness has been a strategic goal for us for years now, clearly it will renew a sense of urgency to try and deal with some of the concerns that were brought forward,” he said.

“I can tell you I think very highly of our members and the work that they do. I think it will be important for me to find new ways to demonstrate that support,” Smyth said.

“I’m committed to work through this… I’m committed to listening to what our members have to say.”

Chambers said the board will be asking the chief to set up an action plan to improve morale and give a timeline for improvement.

“We have confidence in the chief. We will give the chief the opportunity to address (the issues).”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca