Ex-Mountie’s lawsuit says RCMP fails to help cops who are traumatized at work

VANCOUVER – A former Mountie has launched a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court saying the RCMP failed to provide proper counselling and treatment for the trauma he experienced on the job.

James Ward, who was once an officer in Surrey, B.C., claims he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder two years ago after responding to numerous suicides, horrific car crashes and civilian deaths.

His lawsuit claims RCMP breached his employment contract because it either didn’t act on, or didn’t have sufficient measures in place to adequately treat and counsel officers after they experience trauma on duty.

Ward is jointly suing the federal and provincial Crown, which the lawsuit states are typically liable for wrongdoing by the RCMP.

While Ward’s lawsuit states he was looking for both punitive and aggravated damages, no dollar figure was mentioned.

Nothing has been proven in court. The defence has yet to file its own statement in court and a media spokesman with the force declined to comment on the case.