Racism and gender discrimination complaint against Halifax police dismissed

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission has dismissed a racism complaint filed by a Halifax Regional Police sergeant against the municipality.

In 2008, Sgt. Robyn Atwell alleged she was discriminated against on the basis of her race and gender during her career with the force.

A hearing on Atwell's complaint was scheduled to begin Tuesday, but Atwell failed to appear.

A lawyer for Halifax Regional Municipality asked that the complaint be dismissed.

The independent head of the rights tribunal agreed, dismissing her complaint as a direct result of her failure to attend the hearing.

First black female sergeant

Atwell claimed she has experienced racism and sexism since she joined the police force in 1993. She became the force's first black female sergeant when she was promoted in 2005.

In a 2009 interview with CBC News, Atwell said she tried dealing with incidents of racism on her own.

Before filing her complaint with the commission, she said she attempted a mediation process.