Yukon women’s organization 'disgusted' by language in RCMP news release

Yukon women’s organization 'disgusted' by language in RCMP news release

Release says police responded to report of 'unwanted, intoxicated' woman at Whitehorse shelter

Rae Lamache, the executive director of the Yukon Status of Women Council, said she was shocked by the description of a woman in a recent news release from Yukon RCMP.

The Sept. 10 release refers to an external investigation being done into an incident last month at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter, involving an RCMP officer. The release says police had responded to a report of an "unwanted, intoxicated" woman at the shelter on Aug. 11.

Police did not offer further details in the release about the incident or the officer involved. But Lamache sees the language used by RCMP as a way to frame the woman involved in a way that downplays what happened.

“To be described publicly like this is a way, I think, of displacing blame for what happened,” Lamache said.

Police say a third party reported the officer involved in the Aug. 11 incident to the Yukon RCMP’s M Division, which prompted RCMP to pursue an external review.

The incident is now being investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT). The watchdog investigates incidents where police may have caused serious injuries or death, as well as more sensitive allegations of police misconduct such as theft and sexual assault.

Both Yukon RCMP and ASIRT have declined to provide any more details about what transpired at the shelter that day, citing the ongoing investigation.

Lamache says the ASIRT investigation itself “should raise eyebrows for people in the Yukon."

"It is quite a serious process,” she said. “ASIRT doesn’t get involved for a typical police interaction.

“We don’t know the details of what happened, but something happened.”

She also said she’s confused how the initial news release met RCMP style guide standards and was issued in the first place.

“I just felt so sad for her [the woman at the shelter], and so disgusted on behalf of women and girls in the Yukon,” she said.

In response to a request for an interview with CBC News, RCMP spokesperson Calista MacLeod sent a written statement saying the wording in last week's news release “reflected the information provided to police at the time.”

“It is important to note that Yukon RCMP recommended an independent external review to ensure transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the investigative process,” she wrote. “The RCMP is committed to the safety, dignity, and respectful treatment of all people.”

MacLeod also said police have reached out to the Yukon Status of Women Council and other women’s organizations and “remain committed to continued dialogue about the concerns raised.”

CBC News also contacted the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter but did not receive a response before publication.

Caitrin Pilkington is a reporter with CBC North in Whitehorse. She previously worked for Cabin Radio in Yellowknife. She can be reached at caitrin.pilkington@cbc.ca.