Police Committee Formed To Increase Diversity And Inclusion

The Saint John Police Force has created a new committee.

The Chief’s Advisory Committee (CAC) will engage and partner with community groups to increase diversity, inclusion, transparency, accountability, and transform the relationship between community and police.

“The public scrutiny of police is at a level never before experienced in the Maritimes, therefore, it’s extremely important that we as a police agency understand the very fabric of the communities which we serve,” said Inspector Tanya LeBlanc during a Saint John Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

There are key stakeholders as part of this committee, including PRUDE Inc., the Saint John Learning Exchange, the Muslim Association of New Brunswick, Envision Saint John, and the N.B. Aboriginal Peoples Council.

The committee will establish a community action plan to increase diversity, transparency, and accountability within the police force will be created.

“This plan will drive the CAC outcome goal, which is the transformation of the relationship between the Saint John Police Force and the community,” mentioned LeBlanc.

“As well, it will provide us, the Saint John Police Force with an enhanced understanding of the community we serve and our residents,” LeBlanc added.

The committee held its first meeting on November 2 and will meet again in February 2022.

Key measures of success for the committee will include, improved community engagement, collaborative management of issues, police officer engagement, and outcome-based deliverables.