After a hard-fought legal battle with local law enforcement, Aden Withers has settled her civil suit against the 琉璃神社 RCMP.
In 2012, at just 17 years old, Withers reported a sexual assault to the 琉璃神社 RCMP. However, she was subject to brutal and victimizing questioning, in which she was asked if she was 鈥渢urned on鈥� while she was raped.
She filed a civil lawsuit against the detachment and the interrogating officer Cpl. Kenneth Hall in June 2019.
READ MORE: Civil suit brought against 琉璃神社 RCMP officer after 鈥榓bhorrent鈥� interrogation
On January 27, 2019, the two parties reached a settlement which Withers said she鈥檚 satisfied with.
鈥淚鈥檓 feeling relieved and tired,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 over and done with, thank goodness.鈥�
Though the details of the settlement are confidential, Withers said a 鈥渕ore fullsome鈥� review will be undertaken at the detachment.
鈥淚 feel like payouts are always an excuse towards Aboriginal people to make it seem like what they did was right,鈥� she said.
Withers said if she hadn鈥檛 brought her case to the public鈥檚 attention along with the issue of rape culture in 琉璃神社, things likely would have turned out differently.
鈥淚 think the outcome would鈥檝e been a lot different,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ringing this to the media definitely impacted the outcome of the settlement.鈥�
While the experience was draining for Withers, she encourages other rape survivors to share their stories.
鈥淟ots of people have come to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t feels good because that means people are paying attention to the rape culture in 琉璃神社.鈥�
Over the last six months Withers has been an advocate for surviors, by sharing her story through various mediums and events.
The 琉璃神社 RCMP confirmed all legal claims related to Withers鈥� experience have been settled.
鈥淲e regret this incident and remain committed to improving how our employees respond to victims and investigate allegations of sexual assault,鈥� said Staff-Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, senior media relations officer with the RCMP鈥檚 E Division.
鈥淭his incident highlighted the importance for the RCMP to continue to review and update our sexual assault investigative training, practices and policies.鈥�
As first reported in the 琉璃神社 on Oct. 25, 2019, Statistics Canada data shows the 琉璃神社 RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.
The RCMP recently said completed an internal review of the extremely high number of sexual assaults that were deemed 鈥渦nfounded鈥� by police in 2018 and 2019, however, the results have not yet been made public.
READ MORE: 琉璃神社 RCMP completes internal review of sexual assault cases deemed 鈥榰nfounded鈥�
READ MORE: 鈥榃e represent the 40%鈥�: Protesters swarm 琉璃神社 RCMP over unfounded sexual assault reports
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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