RCMP Gazette Human Rights and Policing - Alberta Hate Crimes ...

huMAN RiGhTS AND POliCiNGhuMAN RiGhTS AND POliCiNGHow the RCMP prepares membersto police bias-freeby Caroline RossWhen new members of the RCMP beginfield training, one of their first assignmentsis to identify a particular communitygroup — cultural, religious, demographicor other — and work with it to address anissue of concern.The exercise is just one example ofhow the RCMP is striving to build a biasfreepolice force — one in which membersinstinctively provide equitable, respectfulservice to every individual, regardless ofthat person’s age, race, religion, gender,mental or physical capacity, or otherpotentially “defining” characteristic.“Canada is going through big changesin internal diversity,” says Insp ShellyDuPont, who helped pen the RCMP’spolicy on bias-free policing in 2005. Policeofficers must be able to integrate into thecommunities they serve, she says, andintegration requires a constantly evolvingunderstanding of various populations andtheir unique needs.“With bias-free policing, it’s really apersonal growth of each and every officer,”says DuPont.building foundationsThe growth process begins at the outsetof the 24-week RCMP Cadet TrainingProgram (CTP). The very first trainingmodule includes 18.5 hours of in- andout-of-class learning on concepts such asdiversity, prejudice, discrimination, ethics,Canadian human rights history, and relevantlegislation. Cadets also have opportunitiesto explore their own personal biases.“The time that we spend on theseconcepts is comparable to the time we spendon other key concepts such as the powersof arrest and release, risk assessment andstatement-taking,” says Christine Hudy,lead educational methodologist at the RCMPtraining depot. “It’s really a significant timeblock in the CTP.”From there, cadets learn to apply theconcepts of bias-free policing during severalrealistic training scenarios thatalso teach the “nuts and bolts”of police work. Cadets tacklevandalism in a Vietnamesecommunity, investigate a caseof fraud involving seniors,and more — learning how toexercise their policing dutiesin a climate of tolerance andrespect.“By the time cadets leave[training], they’re very solidcritical thinkers,” says Hudy.“They [understand] that publicinterest is best served bylearning about and workingwith your clients.”Continuous learningAfter basic training, every officer isresponsible for enhancing his or her ownknowledge of Canadian diversity. Differentpostings will require different levels ofawareness and integration, and the forceprovides several resources to help membersprepare accordingly.RCMP National Crime PreventionServices hosts an internal Bias-FreePolicing website, where officers can accessmore than 100 cultural profiles createdby Citizenship and Immigration Canada,browse dozens of religious summariesBias-free policing is crucial ina diverse country like Canada,where Islam is the fastestgrowing religion, seniors arethe fastest growing age group,and the visible minoritypopulation could reach 20 percent by 2017.written by the Department of NationalDefence, and connect with regionally basedRCMP diversity co-ordinators who canadvise on local resources.Bias-free policing requires an understanding of the unique perspectives andneeds of Canada’s diverse communities.The RCMP Learning and Developmentbranch offers self-directed online courseson topics such as the Canadian Charter ofRights and Freedoms, Aboriginal cultureand Alzheimer’s disease.And divisions across the force aredeveloping more ground-level resources toaddress local policing needs — a list of Inuitelders who can advise on cultural issues inNunavut, for example, or a workshop onAfrican-Canadian and Mi’kmaq culturalsensitivities in Nova Scotia.Officers also learn from experience,says Sgt Greg Ericson of the Brooks,Alberta, RCMP detachment. Ericson nowprovides new detachment members withinformation sheets on the Islam faith, owingto Brooks’ growing Somali and Sudaneseimmigrant population.Local officers are also reaching out toeducate the immigrant community aboutCanadian laws.Such community engagement is trulythe heart of bias-free policing, says DuPont.But well-informed police officers are onlypart of the bias-free picture.“It’s equally important for the RCMPto educate our communities about what wedo,” says DuPont.“A lot of new Canadians may not haveaccess to that [information].” ▪RCMP8Gazette Vol. 72, No. 3, 2010