Catherine Galliford

Catherine Galliford (December 28, 1966 – August 15, 2025) was a Canadian Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal in British Columbia. She served as a police spokesperson. She was also known for her allegations of sexual harassment and misconducts in the RCMP.

Career in RCMP

After graduating from the RCMP academy in 1991, Galliford rose up the ranks and became a corporal. In the 90s and 2000s, she served as a spokesperson for the RCMP during various high-profile cases, such as the trial on the bombing of Air India Flight 182 and the investigation into the serial killer Robert Pickton.[1] She also served as a spokesman for the Missing Women's Task Force (associated with the BC Missing Women Investigation).[2]

In 2011, Galliford came to prominence for bringing forward allegations of extensive sexual harassment and misconduct within the RCMP.[2] Chief among her allegations is the claim that officers in the Missing Women's Task Force neglected their duties and tolerated a three-year delay in apprehending serial killer Robert Pickton. When asked to testify before the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, Galliford stated that she would not be testifying for the RCMP "but rather, on behalf of the victims."[3] The individuals she named included Rob Nicholson, the Attorney General of Canada, Ian MacDonald, a doctor for the RCMP, and four officers.[4] One month before hearings began in 2012, the inquiry deemed Galliford "too fragile" to testify, citing alcoholism and post traumatic stress disorder.[5]

After Galliford came forward, the RCMP denied her accusations and sought to dismiss her from the force.[6][7] In 2013, a 2015 trial date was set for her case, but this was later delayed again to 2017.[8][4] A class action lawsuit proceeded alongside hers and Janet Merlo has credited Galliford with inspiring four hundred female police officers to join it.[9] In May 2016, Galliford dropped her complaint against Dr. Ian MacDonald and accepted a settlement from the other defendants. She was subsequently given a medical discharge from the RCMP.[4] Galliford claimed to have lost her house from the various personal and legal issues arising from the court case.[10]

Personal life and death

Born on December 28, 1966, Galliford grew up in the Vancouver area and later moved to Prince George, B.C.[1]

She was married to Darren Campbell, who was, in 2015, a sergeant major for the RCMP. Their son, Connor Campbell, was arrested in September 2015 along with two others for the murder of 19-year old Langley resident Nicholas Hannon.[11] Connor Campbell was convicted in November 2016 and has called Galliford every day since the life sentence began. Galliford stated that the effects of PTSD and agoraphobia prevented her from attending the sentencing. She later said "I carry some guilt because after watching what I went through, I know that he developed a mistrust of the RCMP. But I think parents are parents, and I was a good parent. I know that."[12]

Galliford died from liver cancer in Kamloops, on August 15, 2025, at the age of 58.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Catherine Galliford, the RCMP officer who launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against the force, dead at 58
  2. ^ a b "Female RCMP officer says male colleagues told her they fantasized serial killer Pickton would gut her like a pig". Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. November 23, 2011. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Fournier, Suzanne (November 23, 2011). "Cops watched porn, skipped work instead of investigating missing women: Galliford". The Province. Vancouver. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Dufresne, Manjula; Clancy, Natalie (2016-05-03). "RCMP settles sex harassment suit with Catherine Galliford". CBC. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  5. ^ Fournier, Suzanne (2012-04-23). "Galliford not testifying at the Missing Women Inquiry". The Province. Archived from the original on 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  6. ^ "RCMP denies sexual harassment claims by BC Mountie". 1130 News. July 18, 2012. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  7. ^ "BC Mountie says RCMP seeking to dismiss her". CBC News. 2013-08-25. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  8. ^ "Trial set for 2015 in high-profile RCMP sexual harassment lawsuit". GlobalPost. Canadian Press. 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  9. ^ Clancy, Natalie (31 May 2015). "More women alleging harassment want to join lawsuit against RCMP". Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: CBC News. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Catherine Galliford, the RCMP officer who launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against the force, dead at 58". CBC. 19 August 2025. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025. The suit was eventually settled in 2016, though Galliford said she lost everything after she went public, including her position on the force and her home.
  11. ^ "Catherine Galliford's son one of three accused in teen slaying". CBC News. 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  12. ^ Ryan, Denise (2017-02-03). "Catherine Galliford talks about PTSD and her son's murder conviction". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  13. ^ "Catherine Galliford, the RCMP officer who launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against the force, dead at 58". CBC. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 August 2025. Galliford died Friday of liver cancer in Kamloops, B.C., according to her friends and fellow former RCMP officers Janet Merlo and Cheryl Jarvis, who were with her.
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