Vancouver police spokesperson accused of bullying, harassment, discrimination: court documents
A female former employee of the Vancouver Police Department has filed a lawsuit accusing a high-profile sergeant of bullying, harassment and discrimination – and alleging leadership failed to protect her.
The plaintiff Sharmini Dee, who was a civilian member of the department, not an officer, filed her notice of civil claim in Vancouver Supreme Court Friday.
Dee, in her role as director of public affairs, oversaw the work of the department's media relations officers – including Sgt. Steve Addison, who is named as an individual defendant in the lawsuit.
"While working with the VPD, the plaintiff was subject to almost daily harassment and bullying by Addison," documents obtained by CTV News say.
'Systemic and persistent'
The notice of claim alleges Addison told Dee the position she held should have been his and that she would "fail" in the role. The lawsuit lists examples of how Addison allegedly treated Dee, including that he was "regularly rude and disrespectful" and that he "engaged in threatening and intimidating behaviour." Specific details about these allegations are not included.
The lawsuit also claims Addison deliberately embarrassed and undermined Dee in front of her colleagues, interrupted her, rolled his eyes when she spoke and that he was unco-operative with her to the extent that it interfered with her ability to do her job.
Dee says she resigned her position last month "as a direct consequence of the abuse" she alleges she experienced.
"The plaintiff was subjected to systemic and persistent gender-based harassment and discrimination by Addison and other VPD officers. The behaviour demeaned the plaintiff and limited her career," the claim says.
None of the allegations have been tested in court.
Along with Addison, Dee is suing "institutional defendants" that include the City of Vancouver and the provincial ministries that oversee policing.
"The wrongful conduct of Addison, condoned by the VPD, and for which the institutional defendants are vicariously liable, made the plaintiff's ongoing employment impossible," the lawsuit also says.
The VPD, in an email to CTV News, declined to comment.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment on matters before the courts, specifically personnel matters," wrote Const. Tania Visintin, who works with Addison as a department spokesperson.
'Protecting the perpetrators'
According to the claim, Dee complained about Addison's behaviour and was told "she needed to make accommodations for Addison while he adapted to the plaintiff being his supervisor."
The lawsuit alleges the department brass did not properly investigate Dee's complaints and failed to provide a safe work environment free from harassment and discrimination. In addition, Dee claims she was targeted for "retaliatory harassment" after she complained.
Dee alleges that other female members of the public affairs department were similarly mistreated and that Addison was never formally disciplined or otherwise held accountable, claiming the department is one in which discrimination is entrenched.
"Due to the systemic culture of gender and racially based harassment and discrimination in the VPD, the plaintiff was ostracized, belittled, and humiliated and her career advancement prospects limited," the claim says.
The lawsuit claims defendants "cultivate(d) a culture" at the VPD where complaints of discrimination would go unaddressed, be handled unfairly or "retaliated against with the effect of protecting the perpetrators."
Dee alleges that Addison and other officers made sexually explicit comments to her, also saying comments "dismissing" her ability to do her job were common. These types of comments, the lawsuit claims, are examples of how she was treated differently than her male colleagues.
As a result of the alleged mistreatment, Dee says she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dee is seeking an unspecified amount of damages, and suing on multiple grounds – including negligence, wrongful dismissal, intentional infliction of mental distress, harassment, and a breach of her Charter right to freedom from discrimination.
"The systemic decisions and priorities which created the specific culture of the VPD as related to the plaintiff were, in total, a flagrant and vexatious pattern of behaviour on an institutional level. This was calculated to ensure that in cases of discrimination, the harm would fall upon the victim instead of the perpetrator," the claim says.
No responses to the claim have been filed in court. The City of Vancouver also declined to comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Four arrests made, police officer injured in connection with protest at Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont.
Peel police say four people were arrested and an officer was injured following several protests in Mississauga and Brampton Sunday afternoon, including one at a Hindu temple that turned violent.
B.C. port employers to launch lockout at terminals as labour disruption begins
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
'The best that we can be': Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy.
Musk PAC tells Philadelphia judge the US$1M sweepstakes winners are not chosen by chance
A lawyer for Elon Musk 's political action committee told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday that so-called 'winners' of his US$1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in swing states are not chosen by chance but are instead chosen to be paid 'spokespeople' for the group.
3 arrested as protesters clash outside Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C.
Three people were arrested after duelling protests erupted into violence outside a Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C., over the weekend, according to the RCMP.
Communication issues, double standard for Lebanese-Canadians trying to escape war, says lawyer
Some Lebanese-Canadians are pressuring the federal government to implement emergency measures that would allow Lebanese nationals' family members a less restrictive gateway to Canada, citing more 'flexible' policies for Ukrainians.
Judge rules against Alberta casino, dinner theatre operator
An application to stay a receivership order of Mayfield Investments Ltd., a company that owns multiple businesses in Alberta including the Camrose Resort and Casino, Medicine Hat Lodge and Calgary's Stage West Dinner Theatre, has been denied by the court.
India's Modi, Canada's Trudeau condemn violence at Hindu temple near Toronto
The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.