The culture of the RCMP portrayed by the claimants is one of sexism, homophobia, gossip and backbiting where reprisal for rocking the boat and rumour mongering flourish. While many claimants took care to mention that they had worked with some good members, they indicated that even these members often felt compelled to accept the prevalent culture and remained silent in the face of injustice.
Sexual misconduct in the RCMP appears to occur with a surprising frequency from recruitment to the age of retirement. The assessors concluded, for instance, that there was evidence of 131 cases of outright rape that were reported, for which only one person was actually brought to court. Lesser forms of sexual harassment and abuse—although all sexual abuse and misconduct is serious—appear to be rampant.
All candidates wanting to join the RCMP must first complete a six-month training period at Depot, the RCMP training facility in Regina. Abuses started immediately at this stage. Many of the women the assessors interviewed joined the RCMP at a very young age. It used to be 19 or 20 years old; it's now around 24.
They were often naive, and in many cases the RCMP was their first job and their first time away from their families. Many recounted stories of being shocked by the language and open sexualized nature of the conduct they were confronted with at Depot from trainers, instructors and fellow candidates.
Instructors preyed on young women for at least 20 years there. Harassment was also frequent from male cadets who quickly learned to emulate their instructors. Women were told they were only there to have sex with the men. The assessors heard that the atmosphere at Depot did change for the better over time. However, they still heard recent stories of sexual harassment and discrimination by male instructors. There is constant drinking to excess. There is sexual assault, and there are derogatory comments about women and especially their place in the RCMP.
Candidates who graduate from Depot must then complete the recruit field training program—a six-month period of in-the-field training during which a more senior constable is put in charge of training a new constable who has just left Depot. The goal is to train the new constable on the job, to teach her the necessary skills and procedures required to function as a regular member.
The field coach is responsible for writing an assessment of the new constable.