York Regional Police Board approves anti-racism measures

York Regional Police is taking new measures to combat racism after passing eight recommendations from a new review.

The review from Foster and Associates was presented to York Regional Police Services Board June 28, with recommendations asking police have acknowledgment and accountability of racism in the organization. 

Lorne Foster, managing director of Foster and Associates, said the recommendations are a reinforcement of the York Regional Police Services Board report that was released in August of last year.

“The board committee does a terrific job of identifying the key considerations in the efforts to address anti-Black racism and other forms of discrimination in policing,” explained Foster. “But in our experience, most police services have a problem with execution or implementation.”

The first of the eight recommendations was a formal acknowledgement of the presence of racism in policing activity.

“This is always good practice, to formally recognize,” said Foster. “It’s one of the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, that organizations should recognize that racism exists.”

Other recommendations include accountability mechanisms; review of procedures, practices, and programs through an anti-Black racism and anti-racism lens; representativeness and related employment practices; enhance two-way community engagement and community policing; anti-racism and related training; enhancing York Regional Police anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion capacity and administration; developing a clear and detailed multi-year anti-racism plan with a specific anti-Black racism component.

“We’re laying out a blueprint in the report in very specific detail that provides guidance on what constitutes anti-racism policing and how to do it within the realities of York Region,” said Foster. “We’re not just speaking to what needs to be done, but how it needs to be done.”

Foster and Associates found five key organizational aspects within the review: representation in relation to equity concerns and employment, addressing racism in procedures and programs, adequate community relations and consultation, anti-racism and training, and accountability and transparency measures.

Between the key organizational aspects and methodology of the review, the eight recommendations were developed along with sub-recommendations within the report to better outline how to make change, says Foster, who noted concern over police services that don’t fully follow through on the implementation of anti-racism policies to ensure change.

As part of the process, Foster and Associates conducted document reviews and interviews. 

The consultation sessions were with both staff and community members, including 31 staff members of differing demographics — such as Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQI+, and women — and positions within York Regional Police. There were 26 community members interviewed from the Black community and other racialized communities, 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, and advocacy groups.

“These interviews were free-flowing and focused on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and racism in YRP employment and service activities,” said Foster.

Foster commended the York Regional Police for being “ahead of the curve” in terms of anti-racism and related training.

“York Regional Police have made this a priority, going back to the tragedies of George Floyd,” Jim MacSween, chief of York Regional Police, said. “We’re staying the course on this project. It’s critically important to our organization and our community. This is a long-term project that will continue and should continue with York Regional Police well beyond my time here.”

After the murder of Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, the York Regional Police Services Board developed a list of recommendations in September of 2020 after meeting with Black community representatives.

“That (murder) marked the watershed moment against racism,” said Foster. “It was the bellwether event that caused worldwide protests that sparked levels of introspection about anti-black racism and systemic racism in countries around the world, including Canada, particularly about policing and criminal justice institutions.”

In April of 2021, a preliminary document was tabled that identified activities already undertaken and in progress to address the recommendations with intentions of continuing to consult with the Black community. 

In January 2022, York Regional Police contracted Foster and Associates to review and report on the provision of recommendations and best practices “to enable York Regional Police to build improved relationships with Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities.”