Anti-racism association denounces choice of new NRP chief (St. Catharines Standard)

(from https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/anti-racism-association-denounces-choice-of-new-nrp-chief/article_b8a6f7a3-03d4-5a49-a9f7-140db9ba6245.html)

Bill Fordy says his 2020 comments made about systemic racism in policing were made during "a snapshot of time" during unrest after murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police

ByBill SawchukReporter

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

2 min to read

Article was updated Feb 4, 2024

Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA) wasted little time Tuesday in denouncing the appointment of the new chief of Niagara Regional Police, Bill Fordy, for publicly denying systemic racism exists within its ranks in remarks to the media four years ago.

The police services board announced its pick for chief on Monday. Fordy officially takes the reins on Thursday.

Fordy, then a deputy, said in a television interview in 2020 that he didn't "believe systemic racism exists today in the Niagara Regional Police."

Tuesday, Fordy responded to NRAHA denouncing him as the choice for chief by saying his comments were made during "a snapshot of time" as the men and women in uniform did their best daily to serve and protect citizens during the fallout and unrest after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 20, 2020.

"In fairness, that specific quote was taken out of context when considering the broader discussion occurring during the interview," Fordy said in an emailed statement. "In the same interview, I did acknowledge that systemic racism existed broadly within our society and our institutions."

Fordy said he has since acknowledged, on numerous occasions, that systemic barriers within the institution of policing exist and that he had privileges that others have not as a white male.

"We are all on a continuous journey of personal reflection and growth, and as a service, we are committed to serving and protecting all members of our community and enhancing relationships," Fordy said.

Fordy also released an open letter to the public on July 9, 2020, in which he said changes in policing need to be "evidence-based, not coming from a place of emotion."

Saleh Waziruddin and Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association are denouncing the appointment of the new Niagara Regional Police chief, Bill Fordy, for publicly denying systemic racism exists within its ranks during comments made to a TV station two years ago.

Julie Jocsak St. Catharines Standard file photo

Saleh Waziruddin, a member of the NRARA executive committee, takes issue with that statement, saying evidence shows racial profiling — now called the collection of identifying information — exists within the NRP.

In 2021, the Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security defined racial profiling as an example of systemic racism where police, consciously or unconsciously, apply stereotypes about racial groups when deciding whom to stop, detain, arrest, charge or otherwise subject to policing.

Waziruddin said in 2017 13 per cent of individuals stopped by the NRP were Black, even though as a group they made up two per cent of the Niagara's population. In 2018, one-third of individuals stopped were Indigenous, even though they comprised four per cent of the population.

Fordy replied, with regard to race-based data, "It's important to note that population statistics do not take into account the influx of tourists and international students who visit the Niagara region on an annual basis." 

NRARA also took the opportunity to denounce police services board member Kevin Gibson, a former Wainfleet mayor and former RCMP officer, for comments he made during a Niagara Region council meeting on Aug. 13, 2020, when the association said he denigrated systemic racism as a “shadowy area” that gets “bandied about.”

Gibson didn't respond to a request for an interview.

Bill Sawchuk

 is a reporter with the St. Catharines Standard.