York Regional Police rolling out new anti-racism training

The mandatory training program is being billed as the first of its kind in York Region and is the result of engagement with community members, spokesperson says

Newmarkettoday.com
October 23, 2020

York Regional Police have began a new multi-year anti-racism training program meant to help maintain community trust in the police.

Although systemic racism in policing has been a hot-button topic since the death of George Floyd in Minnesota last summer, the new program is meant to address concerns raised in the Black Experience York Region Report released in August 2018.

"The Black Experience York Region Report indicated that any institution that provides services to the community, such as police, education and social services, needs to better understand the needs and culture of the Black community in an effort to minimize institutional racism," Lisa Moskaluk, York Regional Police spokesperson, said.

"To recognize these issues, York Regional Police has developed a multi-phase approach to anti-Black racism training."

The mandatory training program is being billed as the first of its kind in York Region and is the result of engagement with community members about how to approach the topics involved. It will also be a multi-year initiative that will focus on different forms of racism individually.

"Anti-Black racism will be delivered first, then the training will move into other areas throughout the years; anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Semitism racism, and anti-Asian racism," said Moskaluk.

"The goal is to make York Regional Police a more inclusive workplace, to better understand our diverse communities, so officers are always fair and respectful within our community and to continue to improve community trust and confidence."