Always Room To Improve Policing: Chief

Saint John’s police chief says the policing style in Canada is different than the United States, but there is always room to improve.

“The reform they’re looking to get in the states, we already have here,” said Stephan Drolet during Tuesday’s police commission meeting.

“Not saying that we’re perfect, we still have to increase and improve and policing is one of those professions that every day we learn something new and every day we can apply better and be better at serving our citizens.”

Drolet’s comments come amid high-profile instances of police violence on both sides of the border in recent weeks.

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis more than two weeks ago has prompted protests and calls for police reform around the world, including in New Brunswick.

Four now-former Minneapolis police officers are facing charges in connection in Floyd’s death, including one who was seen on video kneeling on his neck.

“It was really disturbing for me to see,” said Drolet about the video showing Floyd’s death.

“It goes against everything I believe. I became a police officer to serve the community, I became a police officer to help people and that’s not what I witnessed there,” he said.

Closer to home, an independent investigation has been launched into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto on May 27. Police allege the 29-year-old woman fell 24 storeys from a balcony.

There is also an independent investigation in Edmundston, where an officer shot and killed Chantel Moore on June 4 during a wellness check. Police have said the officer was confronted by the 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was allegedly holding a knife and making threats.

In a statement released earlier in the day, Drolet said the force is committed to working with all communities in the city.

“We will always strive to ensure that the needs and concerns of our citizens are met and we will always work to do better through continuous learning and active listening,” said Drolet in the statement.

“It is far from a perfect world but as we all work together, listen to each other, share our messages and respect one another, we can foster a culture of understanding and learning.”

In addition to calls for police reform, there have also been growing questions around the need for Saint John police to have an armoured rescue vehicle.

Similar vehicles have been seen as part of the police response to protests in the United States.

Drolet said his force only uses its vehicle during “critical incidents” to increase the safety of everyone involved.

“As long as I’m chief, it’ll never be used as a crowd control. It’s not what it was designed for,” he said.