Female Toronto cop endured sexist and racist abuse: Human rights claim
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A female officer who contends she rebuffed sexual advances from colleagues and superiors and endured sexist, racist slurs launched an Ontario Human Rights complaint against Toronto Police — the third similar complaint in under a year.
Const. Firouzeh “Effy” Zarabi-Majd, an Iranian-born Muslim, alleged she has been sexually assaulted by a superior she trusted, harassed and denied opportunities in her almost-decade-long career while white males received preferential treatment.
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“My story is only one among many stories of women officers in the TPS,” wrote Zarabi-Majb, 37, who was assigned to 51 division.
She said her experiences are “a reflection of a deep, systemic culture of sexism and racism.”
One police officer, according to the claim, asked other cops in a text message whether her pubic hair was “all brillowy like a (Black) chick?”
The officer was promoted to a specialized unit dealing with vulnerable female victims.
Zarabi-Majd also alleged two larger cops tried to coerce her to have group sex with them, saying they’d spread false rumours that she had a threesome in 2014.
In 2015, a male superior suddenly French-kissed her while they were having a coffee, according to her claim. She rejected that advance and endured weeks of subsequent pressure to have a sexual relationship, she alleged.
Sources told the Toronto Sun that the alleged victim, who has been off work since June after being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is not being paid.
None of the allegations have been tested at a human rights tribunal.
“It is unfortunate that the Toronto Police Service takes an adversarial approach against female police officers who claim that male officers have sexually abused them,” said Zarabi-Majd’s lawyer, Barry Swadron.
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“It goes out of its way to protect the males and further victimize the females,” inisted Swadron.
“The Toronto Service seems to have decided that the #metoo movement does not apply to it.”
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders, who hasn’t yet been served the complaint, denied Swadron’s allegation.
“I take all of these types of conduct seriously and when we are served, we will conduct a thorough investigation into this and identify what actions should be taken,” Saunders countered in an interview.
“We have tried to create an environment as neutral as possible for all our employees.”
Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack said her claims “are untested allegations.”
He said if any employee is being unjustly deprived of pay or benefits, the association will rigorously enforce its collective agreement.
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