Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Saskatoon Police Chief Sees No Racism In The Work His Officers Do

The Canadian Press, 11 Dec, 2015 10:45 AM
    SASKATOON — RCMP Commission Bob Paulson has admitted there are racist officers on the force, but Saskatoon's police chief says he doesn't believe racist views are being translated through the work his officers do.
     
    Chief Clive Weighill's comment came Thursday as the city's board of police commissioners considered a report on the practice of street checks, where officers stop and question people out of a "reasonable suspicion" of criminal activity.
     
    Weighill defended the practice but a small group of protesters attended the meeting and stood and turned their backs when the matter was being discussed as a sign of their opposition.
     
    When they refused to sit, they were asked to leave.
     
    Outside the meeting, the protesters said the street checks are disproportionately used on aboriginals, people of colour and poor people.
     
    Earlier this week, Paulson admitted to a meeting of chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations in Gatineau, Que., that there are racists on his police force, adding he doesn't want them there and urging delegates to report any abuses.
     
    The matter has also been at the forefront in Ontario, where the province is trying to legislate street checks, which are also called "carding."
     
    Weighill said some of the proposed rules in Ontario aren't practical, including one that would force officers to tell people being questioned that they have the right to walk away.
     
    "We drive up and say, 'ok, guys, how are you tonight? What are you up to? By the way, you don't have to tell us anything,' " said Weighill. "What do you think the response is going to be? They're not going to tell us anything."
     
    He insisted his officers don't target certain ethnic groups when stopping people on the street, but some of the protesters said that's not the case.
     
    Eileen Bear said she was recently on her way to a knitting class when a police officer pulled over and started questioning her.
     
    He asked her what her name was and although she at first tried to assert her rights she said she caved when a second officer got out of the vehicle. Bear said she was then asked to help identify people on a list of names, but she refused and walked away.
     
    "Carding disproportionately targets indigenous people and peoples of colour as well as poor white people," said protester Kota Kimura, who helps organize a group opposed to police violence.
     
    He said he believes officers tend to act off society's prejudices.
     
    "We have to be able to ask people what they're doing," said Weighill. "Otherwise, we might as well just be sitting in the police building at night, and then after you have been victimized, we'll go out and take your report and drive back in again."
     
    The street check report said the force in Saskatoon will put together a policy once the work of the provincial police commission and the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police is done.
     
    But Weighill said given the fact that work has just begun, it could be some time before a policy is put in place.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    5th Annual VISAFF Wows Attendees With Curated Festival!

    5th Annual VISAFF Wows Attendees With Curated Festival!
    The Vancouver South Asian Film Festival 5th edition came to a rousing close following five spectacular days that featured a wide variety of films from around the world, infused with food and fetes, serving up a bountiful cinematic feast.

    5th Annual VISAFF Wows Attendees With Curated Festival!

    Public Safety Minister Speaks On Terrorism Threat, Student International Travel

    Public Safety Minister Speaks On Terrorism Threat, Student International Travel
    EDMONTON — Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says he knows of no reason why school boards should cancel international student trips over terrorism fears, but he says the decision is ultimately up to educators.

    Public Safety Minister Speaks On Terrorism Threat, Student International Travel

    New Daily Aeromexico Flights To Vancouver Seen As Boon For Tourism And Business

    New Daily Aeromexico Flights To Vancouver Seen As Boon For Tourism And Business
    Richmond said the non-stop service "opens up" the Latin American market with the airline's "great onward network connections."

    New Daily Aeromexico Flights To Vancouver Seen As Boon For Tourism And Business

    B.C. Judge Sides With Trinity Western University Saying Law Society Erred

     An evangelical Christian university under fire across the country for forbidding sexual intimacy outside of heterosexual marriage has secured a decisive legal victory in its effort to open a law school in British Columbia.

    B.C. Judge Sides With Trinity Western University Saying Law Society Erred

    Wife Of Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Says He Is On Hunger Strike In Prison

    Wife Of Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Says He Is On Hunger Strike In Prison
    Ensaf Haidar tells Amnesty International her husband began it on Tuesday to protest the move.

    Wife Of Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Says He Is On Hunger Strike In Prison

    Canada's Environment Minister Catherine McKenna Worried About Rights Of Indigenous Peoples

    Canada's Environment Minister Catherine McKenna Worried About Rights Of Indigenous Peoples
    PARIS — Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has expressed deep concerns about opposition at the international climate conference to what she called a "critically important" issue — the rights of Aboriginal Peoples.

    Canada's Environment Minister Catherine McKenna Worried About Rights Of Indigenous Peoples

    PrevNext