Police chief must take action to restore community trust

Re: Embassy barrier protects everyone, May22

Ottawa Police Chief Vince Bevan says police are bracing for violence by protesters during G8 demonstrations here later this month. Supposedly he fears another "snake march" like the one during last November's G20 demonstrations because, according to him, violence by some protesters during that event endangered other peaceful demonstrators.

Chief Bevan knows very well that aside from a broken window on Bank Street and a little graffiti, the only violence during the snake march and other G20 events last fall came from police. As the report of the Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community makes clear, peaceful demonstrators were attacked by officers with truncheons and dogs. Many were subjected to illegal searches and seizures of personal property. Dozens were arrested and held without either charge or access to counsel.

As a participant in the demonstrations, I can attest to these events. These transgressions violated not only citizens' Charter rights, they also violated the police service's guidelines.

In reply to protesters whose trust in the police was shattered by the aggressive behaviour of the police last November, Chief Bevan said "some say that the trust has been broken though in some cases I'm no sure there was ever any trust."

Contrast this with what he said on May 9, in response to the release of the citizens' panel report: "For those whose trust in us has been diminished I want to state clearly our commitment to work to rebuild that trust." He went on to state that "It is equally important to guarantee the democratic rights and freedoms Canadians have: the right to free speech, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly."

Chief Bevan can't have it both ways. If there is no sincere recognition that police behaviour in November damaged trust in the community, supported by concrete action to rebuild that trust, one must conclude that Chief Bevan's statement of May 9, as well as the force's Agenda for Excellence for Policing, are simply a cynical PR exercise.

I truly hope they are not. All citizens of our community deserve better.

Rev. Sharon Moon, Ottawa