RCMP Report Details Misconduct Allegations Against Over 400 Members in 2024
More than 400 members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police workforce faced misconduct allegations during 2024, according to a comprehensive report released by the national police service in late January. The document reveals that five percent of these cases ultimately resulted in dismissal, providing insight into disciplinary actions within Canada's federal law enforcement agency.
Discreditable Conduct Remains Most Prevalent Allegation
The report indicates that discreditable conduct continued to represent the largest category of allegations against RCMP members. This broad classification encompasses a wide range of behaviors including improper social media posts, sexual misconduct, and Criminal Code offences. While specific details about individual cases were not provided in the publicly released document, the RCMP confirmed that discreditable conduct allegations formed the majority of complaints.
Statistical Breakdown of Allegations
In 2024, authorities opened 443 conduct files involving RCMP members, marking what the report describes as a return to consistent levels following pandemic-era fluctuations. The numbers had previously dipped between 2021 and 2023 when the RCMP's case counts experienced a temporary decline.
Ultimately, 408 RCMP members across all ranks were alleged to have contravened the police service's Code of Conduct. This represents less than two percent of the total RCMP workforce, which numbers 21,641 members including both police officers and civilian personnel who support police operations.
Rank Distribution and Proportional Representation
The report provides detailed analysis of how misconduct allegations distributed across different ranks within the RCMP:
- Constables represented 54 percent of overall membership but accounted for 61 percent of misconduct cases, showing slight over-representation relative to their share of the force
- Corporals (17 percent), sergeants (10 percent), and staff sergeants (4 percent) each accounted for misconduct cases directly proportional to their membership share
- Members with ranks of inspector and above represented 4 percent of misconduct cases compared to 3 percent of the workforce, another slight over-representation
- Civilian members accounted for only 3 percent of misconduct cases while comprising 12 percent of the total membership
Additional Common Allegation Categories
Beyond discreditable conduct, the RCMP report identifies several other frequently cited allegations against members. These include:
- Improper use of equipment
- Diligence in aid violations
- Conflict of interest situations
- Failure to give and carry out lawful orders and direction
The report notes that allegations related to use of force, abuse of authority, and unauthorized access or use of information rounded out the top ten most common complaint categories.
Disciplinary Process and Outcomes
Conduct authorities or boards—the latter involving legal professionals—are responsible for initiating investigations and determining whether a member's conduct has contravened the Code of Conduct. When violations are confirmed, these bodies impose conduct measures that the report describes as "appropriate to the nature and circumstances of the contravention."
The RCMP emphasizes that their Code of Conduct applies to all members, both police officers and civilian personnel, regardless of whether they are on or off duty, and whether they are within Canada or abroad. The 2024 report highlights what the service describes as a trend toward more serious disciplinary outcomes in confirmed misconduct cases.
