Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau says he doesn't negate the impact of racist comments allegedly posted online by one of his sergeants, but adds that officers are human beings with biases who can learn not to let them affect their work.
"I certainly appreciate and understand how those comments are being received," Bordeleau told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning on Thursday, stopping short of describing them as racist.
"Everybody has biases, whether you're a police officer or a member of society, and ... our job as police officers is to ensure that those biases don't impact the work that we're doing. They're either conscious or unconscious biases, and we have to do everything we can to make sure ... [they] do not impact the work we do. Those biases exist in any profession."
Bordeleau received an email on Sunday from Gatineau, Que., resident Veldon Coburn after Coburn noticed two comments on an Ottawa Citizen online article about the death of Annie Pootoogook, a celebrated Inuk artist whose body was found in the Rideau River last week.
Annie Pootoogook, seen here in 2013 in Ottawa, was found dead in the Rideau River on Sept. 19. The Ottawa police major crimes unit is investigating. (Alexei Kintero)
The comments, which Coburn noted were "troubling for the overt racism of the text," were posted from the Facebook account of Chris Hrnchiar, who Coburn noted appeared to be an Ottawa police sergeant. Coburn called that "distressing."
In one comment posted early Saturday morning, the commenter dismissed Pootoogook's death as "not a murder case," even though the major crimes unit is investigating and police have said there are suspicious elements to the case.
The comments also made disparaging remarks about Indigenous people.
Coburn shared his email complaint with CBC News, as well as a response from Bordeleau, who said his staff would follow up. The investigation is underway.
The officer remains on active duty, Bordeleau said, adding that he has communicated with that officer directly.
"He's in a capacity where, from my perspective, he doesn't need to be removed from his duties right now as we continue this investigation," Bordeleau said.
A coalition of social justice groups called on Ottawa police in August to acknowledge there is a 'crisis' in how they deal with racialized communities. (CBC)
Abdi death sparked calls for change
The complaint comes on the heels of the July 24 arrest and subsequent death of Abdirahman Abdi, a 37-year-old Somali-Canadian who had mental health issues.
Abdi's death, now the subject of a Special Investigations Unit probe, sparked outrage in the Somali community and with social justice groups across Canada.
The group Justice for Abdirahman called for sweeping changes to how police interact with visible minorities and people with mental health issues, as well as tougher and more transparent enforcement of those changes.
Ottawa police chief responds to racist comments, says all officers are human, have biases
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