9 human rights complaints allege Thunder Bay, Ont., police on leave called 'broken toys' in toxic workplace

WARNING: This story contains details of trauma and suicide.

The Thunder Bay Police Service faces allegations of a toxic work culture, detailed in nine complaints with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario that claim members of the force are discriminated against based on their mental health, race and gender. 

The complaints were filed by active and retired officers and civilian employees, as well as a member of the service's oversight board.

"We have an unsafe workplace. We have officers and civilians in deep mental distress with the threat of suicide, with the threat of other harms that come along with workplace mental health injuries and policing," said Chantelle Bryson, a Thunder Bay-based lawyer representing the nine complainants.

According to five of the complaints, a whiteboard at police headquarters lists officers on mental health leave. The complaints say senior officers are known to refer to these members as "broken toys" who've taken "sad leave."

In an interview with CBC News, Bryson said senior officers are "belittling and humiliating people in the workplace who experience mental health struggles that arise from the job."

None of the allegations have been tested or proven in court.

But taken together, experts and advocates in mental health for police say the complaints paint a picture of a workplace culture that is toxic for employees struggling with mental health issues. 

Thunder Bay police Chief Sylvie Hauth refused a request from CBC News for an interview.

But a written statement from Hauth said she would not comment on the human rights complaints.

Hauth pointed to a previously issued press release in which she said she "has never lost sight of the value and importance of each member of this police service."

The statement added the service respects the right of people to apply to outside tribunals and oversight agencies, and will "limit public remarks while these matters are being reviewed."

Many of the complaints describe traumatic experiences on the job, as officers respond to murder scenes, violent assaults, overdose deaths, fatal accidents and suicides, including involving their own colleagues.

At least six of the nine complainants have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and several also were diagnosed with anxiety and depression, according to the complaints.