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As the ongoing unrest continues in the United States over the police killing of George Floyd, the effects are also being felt north of the border.
Floyd, a black man, was killed by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, which was broadcast live on Facebook. Chauvin was subsequently arrested for third-degree murder.
Peaceful protests have occurred across North America since Floyd’s death, but have been overshadowed by violent incidents involving some protesters and armed officers.
Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) Insp. Cam McBride explained his thoughts Tuesday during a bi-weekly zoom update.
“It’s heartbreaking for me, as a police officer in a managerial position to see some of the things that are going on across North America. Heartbreaking, because certainly it’s a tragedy for the family involved. Heartbreaking to see individuals translate a tragic incident to the commission of crime, and also heartbreaking to consider all the work that we’ve done as police services across the nation to educate members on issues in the community,” he said.
On Monday, SPS released a statement on social media regarding the events taking place in America.
— Saskatoon Police (@SaskatoonPolice) June 1, 2020
McBride says it’s been hard to witness events south of the border. He explained that incidents such as Floyd’s, and the backlash that followed, is giving SPS the opportunity to look at what they’re doing within the community.
“What we do is we take what’s happening elsewhere, and we work hard to make sure that it doesn’t happen here.”
“We’re a police service made up of human beings. And lots of us,” he said. “When you have a significant number of people serving a significant number of people in the community. There are times where things happen, in looking back— you wish they hadn’t.”
McBride says he has 23 years of policing, is involved in several committees and various initiatives designed to build relationships and work collaboratively with people of various races, religions and faith.
“We want to move forward, we want to see that relationship build trust. I think we need to give everyone in the community an opportunity to have time to gain that trust of us, and we’re committed to it,” he explained.
McBride had a message for those in Saskatoon or anyone who has had run-ins with the SPS.
“For anyone out there who’s had a bad experience, I would certainly like to say that it’s my hope that that’s a very isolated incident, and I would say it doesn’t reflect what the Saskatoon Police Service stands for,” he said.
When it comes to racism, McBride explained how SPS has a “good process” in place to ensure its members are educated from police college, and throughout their service.
“It’s an ongoing process to build unification between the community and the police service,” he said. “We take it very seriously, and it’s important to us.”
McBride also spoke about body cameras, and the potential for SPS members to wear the equipment on duty.
He says from a local level, they are looking into it.
“We’re looking at what different services and what equipment is out there,” he said.
“Once we’re convinced that there is a very good product out there that meets the needs of us as a police service, and the community— then we’ll have a decision to make. But at this point, we’re just at the research phase.”