By: Amy Matthijsse
The National Women in Law Enforcement Association (NWLEA) is a group of current and former women police officers who have been impacted by sexual violence in the workplace. They have united to press for critical change by exposing systemic failures and advocating for one another and all survivors, as they claim their human right to be free of sexual violence. NWLEA thanks you for your support!
Helping female police officers to challenge severe abuse and the following reprisals that come with reporting internal misconduct. While many male officers are assisted by male dominated police associations, women are left to fight on their own.
It takes years for victim’s to come forward to hold those in power accountable for their actions.
We wish to keep them accountable for not only ourselves but to ensure Public Safety as well.
This is not a problem that is going to go away overnight. We have only just started to see female officers coming forward about the truth of their trauma inside the walls of the Blue.
We would like to ensure they can feel safe and have funding available to assist them in their journeys for justice.
My name is Amy Matthijsse. I reported sexual harassment, workplace harassment, discrimination in an effort to have a better life at work. I imagined that my complaint would be investigated properly and a Human Resources meeting would occur where apologies and promises to do better happen. Instead, I found myself facing charges, called a liar publicly, suspended and my career destroyed along with my reputation. What has happened to me, all while I was struggling with PTSD from workplace trauma, left me feeling abandoned and suicidal. I spent my career helping victims of crime. Specifically my passion to help victims of sexual assault. And when I needed help, there was none.
Police officers are not entitled to reprisal protection under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Nor can we be “victims” under the Police Services Act. Although speaking out has ultimately cost me my career and caused immense mental suffering, my goal is now to help future female officers and community members from ever experiencing the same.
I have contacted every possible person and oversight body in an effort to get assistance. The majority said there was nothing they could do… The Ontario Civilian Police Commission has identified my charges as fatally flawed and they have now since been withdrawn. But the damage has been done. Irreparable damage. Career ending damage with 16 years left to go. On my journey, I’ve met DOZENS of police women who have been forced to resign, or attempt to seek justice through the Human Rights Tribunal with minimal results. Law suits have been tried and failed because we are “unionized”. Most unions we’ve paid into have abandoned us completely although we are paying members.
One particular female officer has endured costs pertaining to a Human Rights matter of hundreds of thousands of dollars to represent her case that has been going on for over 5 years now. With NO assistance from her association /union whatsoever for sexual/criminal harassment AND Sexual Assault. She’s been subjected to hearing after hearing with zero resolution to date.
Today, myself and my amazing friend are creating a GoFundMe to bring awareness to the culture female officers are subjected to all over the world. For us, our mission is to assist other female officers in the province of Ontario who are suffering We speak because they cannot.
While the majority of police officers are amazing, the code of silence when reporting another police officer’s misconduct is deafening. Nobody wants to be “us”. While we don’t blame them, we do know that silence and coverups is not our chosen path. Help us bring justice to the communities that we served. Because although these particular battles are ours, we know all too well how this culture spills out into the community. We can’t protect you if we can’t even protect ourselves.. We hope to help women of all walks of life when we win our cases and are able to demand change, force accountability and redefine the culture in policing.
HUMAN RIGHTS MATTER!!!
Stop Police Sexual Violence 