A high-profile B.C. Mountie is firing back against claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour against a fellow RCMP officer.
Inspector Tim Shields, who worked as the communications staff sergeant for the B.C. force’s E Division, filed a statement of defence in B.C. Supreme Court denying he made sexual advances to one of his former charges.
Shields managed 24 staff members in his position with E Division, including Atoya Montague, who is suing him for sexual harassment.
In a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court last year, Montague described a top-down culture of harassment in the force, but said Shields subjected her to ongoing harassment.
Montague said Shields showed “his erection through his jean shorts” and propositioned her to have sex with him during an August 2003 road trip to the Okanagan to drop off supplies to wildfire victims. She said the officer abused his position of power and rank, and the incident left her in “absolute shock.”
But Shields denies any sexual advances on their two hours on the road or claims that she was a “captive passenger.”
“If the Plaintiff was uncomfortable travelling with Shields, the Plaintiff could have, at any time, requested to change vehicles,” the statement reads.
Shields also insists he only had a "friendly and professional" relationship with Montague, and remained supportive of her as she moved through the ranks of the force.
His claim paints the picture of a female Mountie who openly engaged in candid conversations about her personal and sex life, often in the presence of her colleagues and superiors.
“She participated in sexual banter and frequently made sexual remarks and jokes, including comments about her own breasts,” it reads.
Although Shields admits he joked around with Montague “from time to time”, he denies ever acting inappropriately or exposing himself.
An internal RCMP Code of Conduct investigation in 2013 deemed the allegations against him to be “unsubstantiated.”
Lawyers representing the Mountie say Montague refused to testify at the probe into her allegations.
Shields is seeking damages, saying the allegations against him – which attracted significant local and national media attention -- have caused significant damage to his reputation and career.
Montague claims she has post-traumatic stress disorder and is suing the RCMP for loss of earning capacity and income.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Shields is also facing a second civil lawsuit by another civilian member, Anitra Singh.
More than 300 women in Canada are seeking legal action against the force as part of a class-action suit alleging systemic sexual discrimination in the Canadian Mounties.
One of the complainants in Catherine Galliford, a former B.C. RCMP spokesperson who says she has PTSD from being bullied by superiors and colleagues during her career. She has been on sick leave for eight years.
