The article on Niagara Regional Police finally moving on body cameras says in 2020 the former police chief said he “ … believed it should be a provincial discussion to ensure a unified approach across Ontario,” which can make it seem like police just wanted a broader discussion.
Actually, Chief Bryan MacCulloch said they should wait for “guidance and direction from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.”
It’s also what elected officials said when they voted against the recommendation for body cameras from the City of St. Catharines’ anti-racism advisory committee. Black residents asked for this, but councillors chose not to listen, using the police excuse.
Police kept telling us the direction should be from the provincial government, but are now moving without that direction after all, lagging behind almost every major Ontario police force. The others did it partly because residents asked them to — but in Niagara, both police and municipal councillors ignore racialized residents.
We aren’t keeping police and elected officials accountable if we don’t hold up what they say against their record.
Saleh Waziruddin, St. Catharines, Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association executive committee member
No comments:
Post a Comment