When asked to comment on the movement against police violence and racism targeting black people, Châteauguay’s Director of Police Stéphane Fleury says that he is convinced that his officers are not racist and stated that the use of force among police officers is well regulated in Canada.
Like many people, Châteauguay’s Director of Police saw the images of the
Minneapolis police officer holding his knee against American George Floyd’s neck for several minutes at the end of last month. Floyd died following his arrest. “I think the images speak for themselves,” Fleury commented. “Here in Quebec police are trained to respond to threats and resistance using force. And it is well regulated. The level of force must be commensurate with the threat. It is obvious that in this case, the person was not really resisting anymore.”
The images that have travelled the globe have brought the issues of racial profiling and police brutality back to the forefront.
There is a lot of cultural diversity in Châteauguay. Stéphane Fleury, who has led Châteauguay’s police force for almost 10 years, does not believe that his officers are racist. “Some might have strong prejudices, that’s possible, but it cannot interfere with their work, » he maintained. “Everyone is treated in the same manner.”
The Châteauguay Police Department Has a Racial and Social Profiling Policy.
Diversity Among Officers
14 of the 94 officers employed within Châteauguay’s police department are from ethnic minorities. The director affirmed that ethnic origin has no impact on hiring criteria for a police officer, but maintains that the presence of cultural diversity within the team can help with understanding certain cultures’ reactions to police, for example.
Mr. Fleury believes that “regardless of origin, someone who is intercepted by police might have a personal perception of the situation which, for some, could be interpreted as racism. Fundamentally, we must always look to the reason why an officer intervened,” he explained.
Police Monitored
The director reminds that an officer’s work is well regulated. “There aren’t many excuses for a police officer,’ he asserted. “A number of independent organizations such as the Police Ethics Commissioner and the Independent Investigations Bureau are mandated with ensuring that police work is done correctly.
An anti-racism protest took place in Châteauguay on June 6th. The police department collaborated with organizers and provided security for some 300 protesters.
(Translation Dan Rosenburg)
