We are in a police use-of-force crisis

VANCOUVER, B.C.—If Chantal Moore and Rodney Levi were not Indigenous, would they have been shot dead by police? If Chief Allan Adam was the white mayor of a small town, would he have been brutally assaulted by police? I firmly believe that the answer to both questions is no. We are in a police use-of-force crisis. The RCMP and police services across Canada need to confront and address the fact that their institutions are rife with systemic discrimination and racism against Indigenous peoples. While some police leaders have shown courage and leadership in acknowledging this, others have struggled with it and most have had nothing to say at all. For transformative change to occur, police institutions must acknowledge the truth of the broken relationship between police and Indigenous communities; only then can much-needed reform happen. To know where we need to go, we have to recognize how we got here. My experience as an Indigenous woman in law enforcement has given me a unique insight into the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. I served as a police officer in Ontario for 25 years—19 of them teaching use-of-force and firearms to recruits at the Ontario Police College and my police service. I served in many remote northern Indigenous communities, and I was on the front lines of numerous police incidents involving Indigenous peoples. I obtained my law degree during my police career and have since transitioned into the practice of law. Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples is deeply rooted in colonialism based on racist policies relating to assimilation and the denial of rights. The ugly reality is that the face of colonialism was and still is the police. It is a relationship anchored in oppression, discrimination, unjust laws, and violence. Broken Indigenous relationships, training, and internal police culture are the issues at the core of this policing crisis. The RCMP and all other police services must take immediate action for reform to happen. Police incidents involving excessive and deadly force against Indigenous peoples are directly related to training. Current use-of-force training is grounded in loud, repeated, aggressive, verbal commands and lacks sufficient time and training in communications and de-escalation techniques. The result is that excessive and deadly use-of-force is occurring where it has no place—dealing with people in crisis with mental illness who cannot respond rationally. Police training is subject to tight timelines, resulting in insufficient training and practice in de-escalation techniques. De-escalation is vital in calls involving people experiencing mental illness and in possession of edged weapons (knives, scissors, and sharp objects). Training in de-escalation techniques, edged weapons, and people experiencing mental illness needs to be made mandatory and given priority. Unconscious police bias such as the “us versus them” mentality is instilled into recruits from the day they begin their training. Recruits learn to view themselves as the “good guys and gals.” The “Thin Blue Line” in policing is a barrier to trusting relationships with Indigenous communities. Advancement and promotion of officers to higher ranks heavily favours white males—individuals who “look like us” and “fit in with us.” In this world terms like “corporate commitment” and “loyalty” are euphemisms for “yes-men and women." Diversity within all ranks of law enforcement, not just entry-level positions, is a matter of safety. The lack of diversity within the higher ranks of policing has led to a disconnect with diverse communities. For promotions to diversify police institutions, particularly in the areas of recruiting and training, substantive shifts in policies, processes and procedures will be required. The current, narrow focus on recruitment is not enough. Transformative change within the institutional structure of policing is long overdue. Extensive cultural competency training, starting with senior police ranks, should be mandatory and ongoing. Forging trusting partnerships and relationships with Indigenous and other diverse communities is paramount. The Yukon’s Kwanlin Dün Community Safety Officer program and Ontario’s Nishnawbe Aski and Wikwemikong Police Services serve as examples of the potential for Indigenous communities. Reform, restructure, revitalize—real change depends on the inclusion of Indigenous and diverse voices at every step of the way. Justice demands it. Heather-Anne Manly is a member of the Haisla Nation and served for 25 years with the OPP. She works with an aboriginal law firm in Vancouver and is preparing for her call to the bar. The Hill Times

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We are in a police use-of-force crisis

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