Article content continued

The force is planning to spend $75,000 on a program to educate all 2,000 employees on human rights and various aspects of gender bias.

The initial review found that the careers of female officers suffered when they had children, that they were less likely to be promoted and they regularly experienced sexism in the workplace.

The audit was done as part of a settlement reached from a complaint by Const. Barbara Sjaarda in 2012.

Sjaarda, who is married to another Ottawa officer, alleged she was denied training, specific jobs and chances for promotions because she was a woman and mother who took three maternity leaves when her children were born.

A settlement in 2015 gave the force two years to perform a gender and family status audit of its workforce across all ranks; review all formal and informal promotion and job-placement policies and practices to ensure they don’t discriminate based on gender or family status; revise those policies and practices if they do; and then retrain employees based on the new policies.

About 23 per cent of Ottawa police officers are female, amounting to about 327 women on the force, from constables to a deputy chief.

“We’re now delivering the things to our organization that will actually make the positive changes,” said Deputy Chief Steve Bell.

He said there is a much better gender balance today when it comes to dealing with issues like promotions and transfers between units.

To contact Kelly Egan, please call 613-726-5896 or email kegan@postmedia.com.

Twitter.com/kellyegancolumn