Police body cameras and ‘defunding’ recommended by St. Catharines anti-racism committee (St. Catharines Standard)

(https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/2020/07/16/police-body-cameras-and-defunding-recommended-by-st-catharines-anti-racism-committee.html)

Police body cameras and ‘defunding’ recommended by St. Catharines anti-racism committee

Anti-racism committee presents extensive police reforms to city council

By Karena WalterStandard Reporter

Thu., July 16, 2020timer3 min. read

The St. Catharines anti-racism advisory committee is recommending money in the Niagara Regional Police budget be reallocated to a civilian service to deal with mental health, suicide and welfare check calls.

The “defunding” of the police service, along with outfitting body cameras on officers and providing more crisis intervention training, was among several police reform recommendations presented to St. Catharines city council.

“Your residents want to see you move this forward,” Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee, told councillors during their online video meeting Monday.

The citizen committee was asked by city council in June what it thought of body cameras for police and if it had other ideas for police reform.

Waziruddin said the committee heard from residents who gave oral and written delegations on the issue. It also had conversations with Niagara Regional Police and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Members then came up with a list of recommendations for city council to take to Niagara Region, which oversees the police budget through the police services board. The recommendations fall into 10 categories ranging from de-militarization to hiring practices.

Waziruddin said the “defunding” recommendation may be unnecessarily controversial.

The committee is suggesting the police chief and board re-assess the financial requirements for adequate policing based on removing welfare checks, mental health and suicide threat calls, as well as foot patrols that are demanded because of perception.

The police would bring the reduced budget to Niagara Region which would shift the eliminated funds to a dispatched civilian service, such as Niagara Emergency Medical Services, to respond to those calls.

Waziruddin said 11 per cent of NRP’s 2018 calls were for welfare checks, mental health or suicide threats that he said don’t need an armed response.

“The fact is even the police services board is saying don’t look at the police to solve social problems, fund civilian services instead,” he said.

He said residents have a right to say they want those three kinds of calls outside of policing.

“It’s not really that controversial or strange to have the reallocation of funds. It brings together what’s been discussed over the last few years.”

The committee also recommended the service implement body cameras for all front-line officers as soon as possible.

Waziruddin said cameras aren’t being asked for because the committee believes they will reduce disproportionate violence but are an extra tool that can provide footage if an incident does happen.

St. Patrick’s Coun. Mat Siscoe, who made the original motion at council asking for body cameras, said a conversation needs to happen at the region to try and reform police, recognizing the need for increased funding in other areas of service.

“If we want better outcomes for everybody in our community, if we want everybody to feel like a part of the community, it can’t simply just be a first resort and a last resort to always send the police to every call,” Siscoe said.

City council voted 7-5 to defer sending the recommendations to the Region, as it wants to hear thoughts from the chief of police first. He’ll be invited to come to the next council meeting.

The anti-racism committee’s other recommendations include that the service sell its armoured vehicle and ban the use of tear gas, pepper spray or other chemical agents against protestors or at demonstrations.

It also wants an end to street checks, saying the practice involves racial discrimination.

The committee wants officers to receive more training, including anti-bias or anti-racism training, and wants the service to increase diversity hiring to at least 15 per cent of the recruiting class over three years.

It’s also asking that a civilian body be established with oversight and disciplinary powers over police and that more statistics on hate crimes and use of force by race be published for transparency.

Karena Walter is a St. Catharines-based reporter, primarily covering City Hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com