Police outline multi-pronged effort to combat racism
Commission says emphasis is on creating and maintaining community connection
A police team building relationships; continued work of the hate crimes unit; LGBTQ reconciliation; moving forward with recommendations from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report.
These are just some of the ways city police are addressing racism and marginalization, efforts outlined by the Edmonton Police Commission this week. At a meeting Thursday, Enyinnah Okere, executive director of the value and impact division, along with police Chief Dale Mcfee, touched on multiple Edmonton Police Service (EPS) efforts underway.
The emphasis was that the community relations section of the police service, which falls within the equity and inclusion branch, is central to making connections with all citizens.
“This is the team that builds relationships with diverse, emerging and Indigenous communities and (assists) them with navigating the EPS and liaising with appropriate areas specific to community-identified issues and concerns,” Okere said, then referred to work of the Police and Community Engagement
(PACE) team. “(PACE) started out with around 10 folks who were assigned to other areas, like this isn’t their regular duties, but they wanted to ensure that they were immersed in communities,” Okere said, adding the team now has about 40 members and demand is growing.
“This is something our members value, they want to spend extra time being immersed in the communities.”
The community relations section also works with the hate crimes and violent extremism unit.
“When it comes to racism within the community, we have a dedicated hate crimes unit that does incredible work, has very strong relationships with the community and they know that they can call … they’re going to get a very fair, equitable and passionate response to addressing some of the horrors that we do see,” Okere said.
He also noted that the Chief’s Community Council — a new iteration of the Chief ’s Advisory Council — will bring people together to make sure the EPS is focusing on the root cause of specific issues.
Okere also noted years of work by members on an LGBTQ reconciliation process.
“There are a lot of things that we are actively doing with the community that is meant to build those relationships, build those partnerships. We have a long way to go. But what I am proud to say is that there are a lot of folks who do want to step up and do that work because that is community policing.”
Okere also noted that there is now an external consultant reviewing all EPS policies and practices to align with the recommendations from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry Final Report and the Truth and Reconciliation Final Report.
Okere said the police service started the consultations last year.
“But the other side of that is ensuring that you are doing what you need within your own house and looking introspectively to ensure that we can take progressive steps there as well.”
Other steps the service is taking that were outlined in a document provided to the commission include a new HELP centre, scheduled to open in 2021, that will be a direct referral agency to various social services in the city.
Training is also being developed specifically for members who are identified as having a possible bias.
While formal discipline measures will still be in place, the specific training is meant to provide members with reflective and deeper learning experiences about the impact of their actions and behaviours.
When it comes to racism within the community, we have a dedicated hate crimes unit that does incredible work ...