Policing Equity

Canadian Studies > Gender, Race, Class issues
Criminology
Ethnic Studies > North American

Policing Equity

This paper argues that police departments especially in Toronto, Canada, have an abysmal track-record in terms of equity in the workplace.

2,095 words () | 9 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, although there were landmark appointments of women, visible minorities and homosexuals to positions of power within law-enforcement structures especially in the 1970s, today such appointments in Canada are relatively rare. The author points out that, when police forces fail to hire personnel that represent the community in terms of gender, race and sexuality, they also fail to serve properly the community. The paper stresses that equity will not exist until discriminated community members are allowed to gain power by rising through the ranks and attaining the experience needed to run a major police force.

From the Paper:

"Toronto, meanwhile, while considered so progressive that some people playfully refer to it as the new Amsterdam, finds its force far behind on equity issues in terms of employment. While the city is reaching out to more diverse communities in terms of recruitment, it is clear that its power structure is bound and determined to continue in the old ways. In fact, the closest thing the force has had to a top cop from equity communities were former police board chairs Olivia Chow (who is of Chinese descent) and Pam MacConnell (an out-lesbian), both of whom were forced out of their positions after daring to be critical of police."

Sample of Sources Used:

Ball, Kelly. "How Women Became Part of the Portland Police Bureau." Human Resources Management and Finance. March 13, 2006. Accessed November 19, 2006 <http://www.portlandonline.com/omf/index.cfm?a=bajgjj&c=ebcab>
CBC."Police strength at highest in 12 years, StatsCan reports." CBC.ca. November 15, 2006. Accessed November 19, 2006 <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/11/15/police-study.html>
Forcese, Dennis. "Policing." Historica, The Canadian Encyclopedia. 2006. Accessed November 19, 2006 <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC826415>
Foster, Peter. "Paddick will not face drug charge." The Telegraph. Oct. 10, 2002. Accessed November 19, 2006 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/10/10/npadd10.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/10/10/ixhome.html>
Krickler, Kurt. "The Status of Non-Discrimination and Recognition of Homosexuals" Civil Rights. ND. Accessed November 19, 2006 <http://www.bcn.es/ciutatsdretshumans/textos/krikle.txt>