Police screen out racist job applicants: Hall

Peterborough Police doesn’t hire racists, says one police board member: racist job applicants are “screened out” at the interview stage.

“When we hire police officers, no system is perfect — but it’s a pretty in-depth process,” said Bob Hall, a member of the Peterborough Police Services Board, at a meeting Tuesday night.

That process includes background checks, interviews and psychological testing, Hall said.

“And we are screening out any person — any person! — with any kind of racist beliefs. They are not welcome in the Peterborough Police Service. We don’t want them, we don’t need them — done.”

The board spent part of its meeting on Tuesday discussing a recent Peterborough Examiner editorial focused on policing. The editorial from June 27 called for better screening of police officers to turn away anyone with discriminatory beliefs. It was one of many points in the editorial Hall sought to refute.

“I fully believe, as one member of the board, that this editorial is wrong. It’s wrong on so many different levels,” Hall said.

For example, the editorial points out that minimal show of force is needed to inspire public confidence. Of nearly 32,000 calls for service last year, force was used only 81 times, Hall said.

“And sometimes that could just be a weapon is presented,” he said.

Meanwhile, police accepted a light-armoured vehicle (LAV) from an anonymous donor last month and the editorial suggests it will increase the maximum show of force that is already the norm for police. Hall called the LAV a necessity.

“This is a defensive piece of equipment to protect officers, but also to be able to extract civilians in very dangerous situations,” he said.

Other police board members said The Examiner’s editorial was wrong.

“Get your facts straight before you make generalizations about the service — and learn more,” said Mark Graham.

Les Kariunas said some officers feel “demoralized” by the accusations of militarization of the police.

“They (police) are not looking for accolades … They’re just looking to be respected out there. And I don’t feel this editorial is helping,” Kariunas said.

Coun. Gary Baldwin, the police board chair, said he put the discussion on the agenda because he knew board members wanted to talk about it — and he also wanted officers to know the board supports them.

Mayor Diane Therrien, who sits on the police board, said she was grateful to fellow members for speaking up.

“That was well-said by my colleagues and I thank them for raising that.”