RCMP Commissioner William Elliott listens to a question from the media at a press conference at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa earlier this year.Pawel Dwulit/The Canadian Press
The upper ranks of the RCMP are set for a shakeup following a review of problems at the national police force's top levels, the CBC reported Tuesday.
In an e-mail to staff obtained by the broadcaster, Commissioner William Elliott wrote that the review, conducted by former CSIS head Reid Morden, found "an unhealthy level of tension and conflict" among RCMP brass.
"It is also anticipated that we will be moving forward in the near future with a number of changes to the structure and makeup of our senior management team," he wrote.
The government commissioned the review after senior officers complained Commissioner Elliott was arrogant and disrespectful of his subordinates, and sometimes screamed at them.
In his e-mail, the commissioner was apparently contrite about his own alleged role in workplace tensions, acknowledging that Mr. Morden found that his actions sometimes caused tensions and that some saw his leadership style as controversial.
Others were also frustrated by the slow pace of reform in the organization and the RCMP needed to speed some of it up, the e-mail cited Mr. Morden's review as saying.
Earlier this month, sources told The Globe and Mail the RCMP is pushing for more resources and hoping to revamp its disciplinary system, which currently prescribes no punishment between a two-week suspension and dismissal.
Despite the complaints, Mr. Elliott has the backing of the government, giving him the power to remake the force's leadership as he likes.
At least seven assistant and deputy commissioners complained about Mr. Elliott in July. They include former assistant commissioner Mike McDonell, who wrote Public Safety Minister Vic Toews about the situation shortly before his retirement over the summer. They have been supported by Bill Sweeney, a former senior deputy commissioner.