Hamilton police one of country's best for matching community diversity

The Hamilton Police service is one of the best in the country for matching the racial diversity of the community it serves, new numbers obtained by CBC News show.

The statistics reveal local police represent the city's population better than most — in many major Canadian cities, the police lag much father behind in having their ranks reflect the people they are sworn to protect. 

In May, CBC News surveyed all major police forces in Canada in order to establish a national snapshot of the racial diversity of key law enforcement agencies, and compared the diversity of the city's population as a whole against the diversity of local police officers.

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These findings come as minority groups across North America are shining the spotlight on allegations of abuse of authority and discrimination among polices forces.

The Hamilton Police Service is 17.2 per cent diverse (ie: officers that are Aboriginal or of a visible minority) compared to the city's population, which is 17.7 per cent diverse, according to the 2011 National Household Survey.

I don't think diversity has been an issue with front-line officers — it's an issue with management and the [police] board.- Matthew Green, Ward 3 councillor

Those numbers are good for second best in the country, behind only Halifax, which has a police department that is 12.1 per cent diverse compared to 11.6 per cent of that city's population.

Other police forces in Ontario don't fare nearly as well. Peel Regional Police is 18.8 per cent diverse, but it lags far behind its community, which is 57 per cent diverse.

The Toronto Police Service is 25 per cent diverse compared to 50 per cent of its population. While police services like Toronto have more officers who are Aboriginal or people of colour, their communities are more diverse, setting their bar higher.

Good news, councillor says, but still room to improve

Hamilton police spokesperson Catherine Martin said in a statement that one of the service's goals is to be "a culturally competent organization" that is also "inclusive and welcoming" and "reflective of the communities we serve."

"This is a continuous, organizational journey. It is in partnership with our communities that these changes occur," Martin said.

"With the help of our community we will continue on this pathway towards reflecting the population we serve."

She noted the data was from 2011 and the service anticipates conducting a similar survey in the near future to get an updated picture.

Hamilton Coun. Matthew Green (who is the city's only black councillor), told CBC News that all in all, this is a good news story for Hamilton.

Green filed a formal complaint with Hamilton police back in April after he was the subject of a police stop for no apparent reason — he felt he was approached and questioned purely because he is black.

• The above chart shows community and police service make-up for 2011

But that experience hasn't soured him on the service's efforts to have more people of colour wearing a badge.

"Police have certainly done good work with front-line recruitment … and participation at community events," Green said. "I don't think diversity has been an issue with front-line officers — it's an issue with management and the [police] board."

That problem with diversity in senior management was echoed by Ken Stone, the chair of Hamilton's Community Coalition Against Racism (CCAR). He told CBC News that the situation is a "lot more nuanced" than what the numbers show and that promotion is the next key step for local police.

An 'all-white command structure'

"The problem is with the question of promotion," Stone said. "It is a completely all-white command structure."

"It's mostly the white officers that get the 'tenure track,' if you like."

Stone says that there are no people of colour in senior management positions at Hamilton police — something the CCAR has petitioned the police service and the police board to address.

A question about the make-up of upper management at Hamilton police wasn't immediately answered, and so CBC Hamilton was not able to verify that statement independently.

Stone was steadfast about the importance of minority officers in senior management.

"Their values and their perspectives are absent. We need their participation."

Green maintained that those perspectives also need to be reflected in Hamilton's police board, which does not have any members who are of a visible minority. 

adam.carter@cbc.ca