June 3, 2020
Community members, Like you, we have been greatly impacted by the events happening around the globe.
What took place in Minnesota last week has brought to the fore, histories and contemporary realities of pain, systemic discrimination and oppression.
Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) stands with our Black colleagues and the larger community to speak out against racism and promote understanding.
We are committed to supporting change and pursuing equality.
The members of DRPS chose policing as a means to contribute positively to community— to help make our communities safer.
We do not support, nor condone, nor practice, in any fashion, kneeling on a human being’s neck, long past the point of consciousness.
We acknowledge that the time to build alliances, seek solutions and implement change is long overdue.
But we are here, and confident that together we can foster a safer and more equitable and inclusive community to live, work and play.
Many of you have reached out to us to express your frustration, to inquire about what we will do next and to investigate what strategies we are employing to ensure that this doesn’t happen here.
We acknowledge that there have been times that we have failed you in the past.
Please know that we are committed to continuously improving our training, education, conduct and accountability practices, and to listening to the collective voices of the communities of Durham Region.
We want to help foster open and regular dialogue.
For all non-emergency concerns, please connect with us on any of our social media platforms or via email at: equityandinclusion@drps.ca.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Chief of Police Paul Martin Durham Regional Police
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
