Top cop speaks candidly about public scrutiny
Walsh says local officers have community-based approach
SYDNEY – The acting chief of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service says he welcomes the difficult conversations that presently revolve around how officers interact with the public.
“Many people are hurt and angry right now and the police are at the forefront of this conversation,” acknowledged Walsh, in a post-police commission interview on Monday afternoon.
“But it is important to understand that Canadian policing approaches are very different from the United States and for many years have focused more on community engagement and well-being and proactive crime prevention.
“We take pride in our community-based approach to policing and we value our relationships with the community, and as the acting chief I am very proud of the work our officers do in the ways they interact with our citizens. Our officers are well-trained professionals who we hold to very high standards, but we have to go out and earn that public trust every day.”
Walsh paused to collect his thoughts after being asked whether systemic or institutional racism exists within the local police department.
“I think there’s been enough research to support the fact that systemic racism is real and exists in the criminal justice system, including police, so it would stand to reason it would exist in all police services,” he said.
“But I don't think this means that all police are racist or that they are purposely out targeting minority groups, and I certainly do not think that is the case within the CBRPS.
“But what it does mean is that people, especially police officers and those in the justice system right up to judges, need to be aware of unconscious bias and the need to educate ourselves in order to make sure it doesn't affect our decision making.”
Walsh said policing has come a long way over the years and now includes training on issues such as cultural sensitivity, human rights and ethical responsibilities. He added that officers complete annual recertification training on the use of force model, de-escalation techniques and physical restraints, including the full range of available use of force options from low-level empty-hand tactics through to intermediate weapons and then the use of lethal force as a last resort.
Following a brief appearance before the CBRM's board of police commissioners on Monday, commissioner Steve Gillespie gave his unequivocal support to Walsh and the police department.
“Considering everything that is now happening in the world, I would hope that people realize our police service is more than just police officers driving around in cars, it's a very interactive and accessible part of this community,” said Gillespie.
Commission chair Jim MacLeod echoed his fellow councillor's sentiment saying the force has been “doing an excellent job.”
Meanwhile, Walsh also updated the commission on the service's COVID-19 response.
He said the CBRPS issued have 107 violations under the province's state of emergency, the majority which were for social distancing, from the first of March until the end of May. No tickets have been issued thus far in June.
“We tried initially to educate the public and we gave warnings where possible, we gave some allowances for business that were also trying to implement their own measures – we have been very fortunate that most people in our communities have been acceptive of these measures and have been compliant,” said Walsh.