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Kelowna RCMP Superintendent Brent Mundle said it's been a difficult few months, but a review into how members handle sexual assault cases will make his detachment better. The Kelowna RCMP was singled-out after it was revealed an extraordinary 40% of sexual assault files ended up with the label: unfounded.
We spoke with both Mundle and Michelle Novakowski of the Elizabeth Fry Society about the review and the changes that have come with it.
"There is always room for improvement," said Mundle.", he said. "This provided us with an opportunity to identify an area that we still need to develop in."
The review has given survivors' advocates reason to be hopeful. The Executive Director of the Kelowna Elizabeth Fry Society is pleased.
"I'm happy about the outcome," said Michelle Novakowski. "We were asking for training, better training for patrol officers and for a specialized unit because that was the biggest part of the problem."
The RCMP has granted that wish announcing that all members will be getting some additional training in this area and Mundle said his members are embracing the process. "The completion rate is really high," he told KelownaNow. "Definitely, our members see the necessity."
In addition, a new 4-member unit will be set up specifically to deal with these kinds of cases.
"I think that this, in the long run, will make a big difference," said Novakowski. "We're going to have officers in that unit that really know what they're doing and are dedicated to making a change."
When the Mayor issued a news release on the topic, the "incorrect scoring of files" was stated as a reason why the Kelowna Detachment had a disproportionate 40% of cases deemed "unfounded".
Novakowski questions that point, but she is pleased to see a dozen cases have been brought back for review as a result of the process.
"I'm really happy to hear that," she said. "Novakowski believes members at the Kelowna Detachment are ready to embrace some positive changes.
"The people that I've talked to are quite excited about it," she said. "Some had been seeking this before any of this came out there had been work going on about it."
The Superintendent said the job of restoring public confidence in this area will continue. "What's happened here in the last few months has damaged that confidence," he acknowledged. "I'm hopeful that the changes that we've made will lead to improvements in this area."
"I don't think that's going to happen day one," said Novakowski. "I think the change is going to happen slowly, but I think there will be a culture shift."
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