Despite concerns raised by community members following the arrest of a sexual assault victim last year, the commanding officer for the G Division says Mounties have a positive relationship with women and womenSA国际影视传媒檚 groups in Yellowknife and throughout the territory.
Chief Supt. Jamie Zettler, joined by Supt. Amanda Jones, the criminal operations officer at G Division, addressed the Standing Committee on Social Development at the legislative assembly on Tuesday, presenting to members on a wide range of topics, from small community policing to sexual assault investigation training.
Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green, who has been outspoken about her concern over the victimSA国际影视传媒檚 May 2017 arrest, zeroed in on the incident when addressing Zettler.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e asked lots of questions in the Assembly to the Justice Minister about the relationship between the and women, which wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 great. And then the woman was taken to the cells. I think at that point, the trust between women and the may have declined even further,SA国际影视传媒� said Green.
She asked Zettler whatSA国际影视传媒檚 being done on the SA国际影视传媒檚 end to SA国际影视传媒渞ebuild that relationship of trust.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily agree we have a poor relationship with women,SA国际影视传媒� Zettler responded. SA国际影视传媒淥ur members are engaged with many of the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 groups in the territory, not only in Yellowknife, but throughout NWT. The feedback ISA国际影视传媒檝e received from the various communities I visit and talk to talk about a positive relationship.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲e continue to work with them, reviewing our policies to make sure people feel comfortable coming to us,SA国际影视传媒� he added.
But Zettler did identify areas which the force must SA国际影视传媒渃ontinue to move the bar forward.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲e are committed as an organization SA国际影视传媒� to be open to criticism, to take a look at our policies and procedures and to make improvements where we can,SA国际影视传媒� said Zettler.
After a 2017 Globe and Mail article revealed that police forces across the country were closing a quarter of all sexual assault complaints as 'unfounded,' Zettler said G Division has moved to thoroughly examine new 'unfounded' sexual assault cases.
Zettler added that NWT-wide policies have been introduced, such as the SA国际影视传媒減rocess of taking statements, including trauma impacted statements courses.SA国际影视传媒�
All G Division members are required to complete a common sexual assault course. In recent years, Zettler said more than 20 officers have completed more advanced sexual assault investigation training.
He said other concerns raised by Green are being explored, including whether G Division will be implementing third party reviews and third party reporting - when someone other than the victim reports. Zettler stressed those options need to be mesh well with NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 unique justification.
SA国际影视传媒淔or us and the community to have trust in those processes, it needs to work here,SA国际影视传媒� said Zettler.
