WARNING: This article details allegations of sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.
The Ottawa Police Services Board has reached a confidential settlement with an officer who alleged in a 2019 human rights complaint that she was repeatedly raped, harassed and solicited by fellow officers.
The 45-page human rights complaint, which named nearly two dozen Ottawa Police Service (OPS) employees, detailed not only an alleged off-duty sexual assault, but years of systemic sexism that started when she was only a few months away from being hired.
The officer was a rookie in 2011 when she agreed to be driven home by another patrol officer after a night out at a bar. She alleged that instead of driving her home, the officer headed to her own house, where he gave her a “bubbly” drink and then sexually assaulted her.
CBC News is not naming the woman because she is a sexual assault complainant. But in a Fifth domain investigation into sexism at the gendarmerie, the woman was identified by the pseudonym “Anne”.
In the complaint, the woman also alleged that a staff sergeant once said he would give her time to get “a boob job” and that she was told by constables that she did ” everyone’s shortlist” of female officers they wanted to have sex with.
After a romantic relationship with another police officer, the woman alleged that he stalked her. When she told others about it, they dismissed her safety concerns, she said in the complaint.
The settlement was reached in April 2021, the chairman of the police board, the council, said. Diane Deans confirmed this week.
“I can confirm that the parties reached a resolution of the complaint in April 2021. However, the terms of that resolution are confidential between the parties,” Deans said in a statement.
The woman’s attorney, Paul Champ, also confirmed the settlement, but did not comment beyond that, also citing its confidential nature.
When the lawsuit was first filed, the woman sought $805,000 in damages for harm to dignity and self-respect, loss of earnings and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
She also asked the department to hire an outside consultant to provide education and training on gender discrimination and distribute a copy of the court’s decision to all women applying for OPS jobs.
The deans did not respond whether any policy changes had been recommended or instituted at the OPS as a result of the settlement.
Council, force in charge of resolving outstanding legal disputes
Last week, the OPS released the results of an independent assessment of the force’s work culture and what employees think of its handling of harassment and sexual violence in the workplace.
Employees told an independent investigator that they continued to be penalized for reporting poor behavior by co-workers. They said women are sexually objectified and racialized officers are unfairly scrutinized for the same behavior of their white counterparts.
The workplace assessment was part of a force and council project to tackle sexual violence in the workplace, launched in 2020 after one of the service’s own deputy chiefs was accused of sexual misconduct.
Among his 18 recommendations, all of which were accepted by both the department and the board, was a recommendation that the board resolve to the best of its ability any outstanding legal disputes relating to workplace harassment.
Officer awaits misconduct hearing in February
An officer named in the woman’s complaint, Const. Kevin Benloss, who she says sexually assaulted her, has been investigated by the Ottawa Police Criminal and Misconduct Unit.
No criminal charges were ever brought against him, although the OPP believed there were grounds to do so.
Benloss was charged by Ottawa police in November 2020 with disciplinary offenses under the Police Services Act.
The service alleged that Benloss acted in a manner likely to discredit or damage the service’s reputation when, on March 13, 2011, he “engaged in physical and/or sexual communications and/or contact with a sworn member …that you should have known was unwelcome, unwanted, offensive, intimidating, hostile or inappropriate.”
Benloss was also charged with one count of insubordination for allegedly violating the force’s Respectful Workplace Policy, which governs how employees are to treat each other.
He was suspended with pay in September 2020.
Benloss faces a disciplinary hearing at the end of February.
Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Canadian Association for the Elimination of Violence Database. If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or the safety of those around you, please call 911.
