NCJ Number
207650
Journal
Canadian Police Chief Magazine Dated: Fall 2004 Pages: 13-17
Date Published
October 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the presentations and discussions at a Canadian forum attended by law enforcement leaders from across the country to address issues in preparing law enforcement officers to serve the diverse population groups in Canada whose values, perspectives, and behaviors reflect a variety of cultural influences.
Abstract
The opening address noted changes in policing in Canada over the past 20 years that have made law enforcement agencies more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. The forum engaged in an assessment of current Canadian law enforcement agencies' efforts to prepare officers to deal with the many immigrant populations currently living and expanding in Canada. The forum included discussions of the strategic and operational adjustments that law enforcement agencies must make in defining their "cultural competency." One topic discussed was the significance of citizen perceptions influenced by cultural conditioning and how officers must be trained to identify perceptions characteristic of specific cultural groups and how best to respond to these perceptions in various circumstances of policing. Attention was given to the work of the LEAD (Law Enforcement Aboriginal and Diversity) Network, which is a national network of law enforcement agencies committed to increasing the cultural competency of law enforcement officers. One presentation focused on the importance of cultural competency in conducting criminal investigations, with attention to interviewing and gaining the cooperation of witnesses with diverse cultural backgrounds. This forum, which is part of the Executive Forum Series, was one of many that will continue to provide law enforcement leaders with insights, action plans, and cooperative alliances designed to improve the quality of service to all cultural communities within their jurisdictions.