Colley-Urquhart quits police commission after reprimand

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Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart has abruptly quit the Calgary police commission after being reprimanded for violating rules in her effort to help female police officers who feel harassed.

The veteran city councillor emailed her resignation to commission chair Brian Thiessen on Tuesday, saying only that she values her 10 years as a council appointee on the commission. She later told Postmedia: “When guns become locked and loaded at me it does no service at all to what the women in the Calgary Police have experienced.”

The sudden departure is the latest upheaval in a long-running drama that has seen femaleofficers meet secretly with Colley-Urquhart to voice their complaints about harassment and sexual advances by other officers.

More recently, Jen Ward tearfully resigned from the police service at a public commission meeting. Police Chief Roger Chaffin refused to accept her resignation on the spot, but she has since left the force.

“I believe and expected that the CPS would hear concerns and complaints and act to remedy the problems,” Ward told the shocked commission. “I did not expect to be blamed and disliked for taking a stand for what was right, nor did I expect my career with the CPS would be sacrificed.”

In a statement, Thiessen said Colley-Urquhart’s resignation was a surprise, but thanked her for 10 years of service on the commission.

“Councillor Colley-Urquhart brought significant expertise and a passion for public safety,” he said. “We valued her perspective and contribution and wish her the best of luck.”

Mayor Naheed Nenshi labelled the circumstances around Colley-Urquhart’s resignation as “sad.”

“Certainly, Coun. Colley-Urquhart has served with great distinction on this commission for many years,” Nenshi said Tuesday.

“And, the circumstances around this are certainly sad, but I know that she feels strongly about standing up for the safety of everyone who wears the Calgary police uniform and certainly I feel strongly about that as well.”

Retired Calgary police officer Marlene Hope said news of the resignation comes as an “absolute shock.” Hope was one of the officers who approached the city councillor with allegations of bullying and harassment within the police service.

“It sounds like to give up that position where she’s been passionate about serving and all the good work that she’s done, I think there must have been a sense from her that she had lost the support of those she worked with, and, boy, do we know how that feels,” said Hope.

Hope added that she believes Thiessen and commission vice-chair Lisa Silver are committed to the workplace issues that have been brought forward.

“But it’s concerning when somebody takes this drastic step,” she said. “You know, what is going on behind the scenes there as well.

In a statement, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley thanked Colley-Urquhart for her service on the commission, “along with her advocacy to ensure Albertans feel safe and respected in their workplace.”

“The role of the Calgary police commission is to provide independent civilian oversight and governance of the Calgary Police Service,” said Ganley.

“Concerns need to be shared with the commission in order for the commission to follow up on them and ensure accountability. I understand there were no sanctions in this matter, just a discussion around process.”

Doug King, a professor in the department of justice studies at Mount Royal University, said Colley-Urquhart’s resignation is a “loss to public oversight of policing in Calgary.”

“She has been a reliable and public voice of oversight in policing in Calgary for 10 years, and I am of the opinion that that has been a very positive thing for policing in general.”

King added that having the chair of the police commission indicate that there’s no formal reprimand on the horizon, but then to make that statement publicly, “is a form of public reprimand.”

On Monday, after Thiessen spoke to Colley-Urquhart, the commission found that she could have violated four parts of the code of conduct, including speaking on behalf of the commission without authority; using her position as a commissioner to advance personal interests; failing to execute duties loyally, faithfully and impartially; and failing to perform duties in accordance with the rules.

Thiessen said Tuesday — just before receiving the letter of resignation — that he and Colley-Urquhart found enough areas of agreement that there wouldn’t be a formal investigation.

Colley-Urquhart said she disagreed with the commission’s conclusions and the evidence used to reach their conclusion.

“I don’t want anything I say to further jeopardize these women police officers,” she told Postmedia. “Some have already resigned. Others continue to be impacted. I want to say unequivocally that this is not about me.”

— With files from Annalise Klingbeil