Calgary Police Service's lawsuit against former HR boss settled with consent injunction
Angela Whitney banned from posting private info, disparaging remarks on social media
The Calgary Police Service and its former head of human resources reached an out-of-court settlement this week, nine months after a judge found Angela Whitney "misused confidential CPS information and made disparaging comments about CPS and its personnel."
Whitney, who served as HR director from 2019 until her resignation in 2021, consented to a permanent injunction order that will prevent her from posting private CPS information or derogatory public statements about the service and its employees.
In early 2024, three years after she left CPS, Whitney posted a series of scathing comments about the service, alleging it was "rife with harassment, bullying and discrimination."
She also posted details of specific HR investigations and threatened to release further confidential information.
CPS 'pleased' with settlement
In March 2024, the service sued Whitney, seeking a permanent injunction and legal costs. As part of the consent agreement, neither side will be awarded costs.
In a statement provided to CBC News, CPS said it is "pleased" with the result and the fact it was able to avoid further court action.
The service also says it is committed to advancing HR reform within the service.
"As we have stated from the start of this matter, the priority of the Calgary Police Service has been to protect the confidentiality and privacy of CPS employees," reads the statement.
"We continue to do the necessary and important work to build trust in our human resources processes so that our people feel they can raise concerns safely."
Whitney's lawyer has not responded to a request for comment.
$60,000 severance agreement
Some of Whitney's posts revealed information about specific HR investigations she'd been involved with, a move the service said was in breach of her resignation agreement.
Justice Glenda Campbell issued a temporary injunction in June, finding "Whitney misused confidential CPS information and made disparaging comments about CPS and its personnel."
At that time, Whitney was ordered to remove the posts from all social media platforms.
She was also banned from making public statements that were in violation of her 2021 severance agreement.
The agreement was signed after Whitney emailed co-workers while on medical leave in March 2021, saying she wanted to resign.
She requested four months of severance pay — $60,000 — which CPS agreed to pay.
No complaint filed with police commission
Whitney signed a confidentiality agreement prohibiting her from disclosing information from police service HR matters and also prevented her from disparaging the service.
After CPS filed its lawsuit, Whitney claimed the agreement was forced on her, but Justice Campbell found she'd been given the chance to review the document, request changes and seek legal advice.
Before launching its court challenge, CPS sent two letters to Whitney, asking that she remove the problematic comments from social media.
Both CPS and Campbell suggested Whitney take her concerns to the Calgary Police Commission (CPC), the police service's governing body.
Last March, the CPC announced a third-party review of workplace conditions inside the police department following Whitney's public comments.
The police commission confirms it has met with Whitney but says a formal complaint has not been filed.
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