Racial Bias

By-Amitabh Thakur

Friends,

A "The Star"( Canada) story titled "Racial bias exists on police force, chief says" published on Sep 30, 2009 says that seven years ago, the Toronto police union fervently denied racial bias existed within its ranks and was prepared to sue those who claimed otherwise but today the Chief Bill Blair himself acknowledges that racial profiling is a problem. That's why a panel of community leaders and legal experts gathered at the new police college for a diversity conference hosted by the Toronto Police Service to discuss issues of diversity and racism among police officers.
The Star says that in 2002, when it ran a series of award-winning articles exposing racial bias on the force, then-chief Julian Fantino flatly denied it existed. The police union launched a $2.7 billion class-action libel lawsuit against the Star.
Efforts had been made in the past to address the subject, but progress was minimal. In the early 1990s, the board passed its first race relations policy. An outside consultant was brought in to develop and design diversity training for officers. It was also around this time that chief William McCormack created an aboriginal peacekeeping unit.
Before Blair's time, white males made up between 85 and 90 per cent of the average recruitment class. Today, women and visible minorities account for anywhere between 40 and 60 per cent of new officers.
The majority of police forces across the country operate some form of race relations unit. In addition, many are finding innovative ways to train officers. In York Region, the service has created a Places of Worship Tour, a program that takes its officers to various religious centres across the region.
Are these steps relevant and pertinent for our country as well?