A survey for the city’s Police Services Board shows youth want officers to spend more time reaching out to them.
Board consultant Leisa Desmoulins says it’s one of the recommendations for their Organizational Change project to improve the relationship between police and youth who experience racism.
“If there are ongoing events, come out to the events and be part of them with us. As well, as new events come forward, the service should be aware of them and should be coming out to those events as well.”
The Board says the project focuses on community engagement, respectful interactions, and engaging in “bias-free policing.”
The consultant says youth told police they aren’t always comfortable with officers.
“They felt somewhat intimidated by police uniforms,” she notes, explaining youth suggested police be issued an alternate, plain-clothes uniform.
“For example, a golf shirt with a logo on it to wear at events with youth in the community. Really, a way to break down some of that that police officer-citizen [barrier] and have it to be a bit more on a personal level.”
She adds young people told them that when officers are at those events, they should also make more of a point to talk with youth.
“Those kinds of ways to engage with youth informally, in a way that has nothing to do with law enforcement or security.”
