On Wednesday, Toronto Police Chief James Ramer addressed the media. He delivered an apology in response to the Toronto Police Service’s 2020 Race-Based Data Collection Strategy. He admitted to what has been suspected by many: that profiling against racialized minorities is a systemic issue.
The report confirmed racialized communities were overrepresented in strip searches, use of force and other areas. The report found that “members of the Black community were found 1.6 times more likely to be subjected to the use of force by police, Latino populations 1.5 times, and Middle Eastern demographics by 1.2 times.”
I was left questioning Ramer. He said, “I am sorry, and I apologize unreservedly.” He then remarked the findings would result in a “challenging few weeks” for his officers. We need to change the mindset and focus on what is important.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
In recent years, there have been other substantial reports suggesting there is systemic racism within the police.
In 2018, a Ontario Human Rights Commission report found that “a Black person in Toronto was nearly 20 times more likely” than a white person to be shot and killed by police.
In 2019, a report by Justice Michael Tulloch concluded that random street checks only generate “low quality intelligence and alienates minority communities from the police.”
After these reports, we can no longer talk about a few bad apples. The question now is, where do we go from here?
We must start by looking into institutional racism. In 2020, the New York Police Department released a study on impact of implicit bias in its police force. It found officers are constantly in an environment with enormous cultural and systemic forces that build racial bias against minority groups. At times, these police strategies can create and highlight personal, subconscious bias.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
This affects the system as a whole, as well as individual police officers. With time, officers become conditioned toward implicit bias. They are hardened by their daily work life in the force (which I am sure is difficult), and start to associate race with crime or danger.
The literature suggests people tend to lose their own identity while being part of a group. In policing culture that is hierarchical, new officers want to impress more experienced ones. When dealing with a group that has the power to make decisions on using force or searching others, this type of groupthink can result in insidious effects.
At this point, it is not about an apology or accepting the facts. It is about what society as a whole is willing to do to address racial bias and profiling. The unfair treatment of racialized communities not only affects those being profiled, but also their family, friends and entire communities. Sadly, it sends a terrible message to anyone who cares to listen.
The overpolicing of minorities has deleterious effects. We are beyond just policing reforms. The police should endeavour to inspire trust in the communities they serve, including racialized communities.
In my view, the 10 steps suggested by the Ontario Human Rights Commission report are apt. If we had made those changes back in 2018, perhaps we would have seen improvements.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
First, we should implement Crown pre-charge screening and allow the Crown’s office to review charges before they are laid by police, which is not currently the case in Ontario.
Second, we can amend Ontario’s Police Services Act and the Community Safety and Policing Act, so there is greater transparency regarding bias within the police. Accountability is crucial.
Lastly, we ought to implement early intervention systems and policies in police services across Ontario, once racial bias is detected in a specific division.
Racial profiling and overpolicing will not disappear in the near future. However, we have to do better. We need to make significant changes that lead to transformative progress.
Let’s not forget that we are all equal before and under the law. We all have the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination.
