To: South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Board (Police Board)
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To: South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Board (Police Board) From: Chief Officer Dave Jones South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service (Transit Police) Date: January 10, 2020 Subject: Strengthening Transit Police Support to Indigenous Peoples [Report No. 2020–01] RECOMMENDATION: THAT the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Board receive Board Report No. 2020-01 – Strengthening Transit Police Support to Indigenous Peoples and support the suggested actions for the Police Board and the Transit Police. PURPOSE This report responds to a request from the Police Board Governance Committee to identify learnings from the Thunder Bay Police Services Board Investigation - Final Report and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls - Final Report, and compare to the situation of the Police Board and Transit Police. DISCUSSION In response to the request of the Police Board Governance Committee, a comprehensive report has been prepared and attached for the consideration of the Police Board. Augmenting the main report are the following appendices: Appendix “A” – Transit Police Initiatives Related to Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation Appendix “B” – Principles - British Columbia Provincial Policing Standards 5.1 Missing Person Investigations Appendix “C” – First Nations within the Metro Vancouver Region Appendix “D” – Metro Vancouver Transit Police - Indigenous Liaison Author: Beth Nielsen, Senior Policy and Planning Advisor Submitting Executive Member: Dave Jones, Chief Officer Metro Vancouver Transit Police Initiatives Related to Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation • providing annual reports that The MMIWG Final Report was far- show progress on reducing the reaching and dealt with many underlying rate of criminal victimization of systemic issues. Recommendations were Indigenous Peoples; and directed towards multiple levels of • providing education to public government and various stakeholders, to servants on the history of establish a holistic and effective path Indigenous Peoples. forward that will empower Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people MMIWG Final Report – In 2016, the and address violence against them. There National Inquiry into Missing and are specific recommendations to police Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls agencies in Section 9: Calls to Police was launched as a key government Services. initiative to end the disproportionally high levels of violence faced by Indigenous Transit Police Commitment – The women and girls. The Inquiry was also the continuing negative effects of residential Government of Canada’s response to the schools and the importance of Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s reconciliation cannot be understated, and Call to Action #41. The National Inquiry supporting the recommendations of the conducted in-depth study and analysis TRC Final Report and the MMIWG Final between 2016 and 2018 on missing and Report are priorities within the Transit murdered Indigenous women and girls, Police. The intent and spirit of these calls including LGBTQ and Two Spirit people to action has helped to inform the (“2SLGBTQQIA people”), collecting initiatives implemented and continues to information from community and be advanced by the Transit Police in institutional hearings; past and current support of reconciliation and safety for research; and forensic analysis of police Indigenous Persons. records. The Inquiry also gathered evidence from over 1,400 witnesses, Transit Police staff continue to be including survivors of violence, the educated on the impact that Indigenous families of victims, and subject-matter Peoples past experience with government experts and Knowledge Keepers. and police can have in those individuals’ day-to-day interactions. Transit Police On November 1, 2017, an Interim Report continues to take advantage of learnings on the MMIWG was issued. On June 3, and resources from the community and 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing our jurisdictional police partners, and to and Murdered Indigenous Women and seek out new opportunities to enhance Girls presented its Final Report to policing services and to build greater trust families, survivors, Indigenous leaders, as with Indigenous communities across well as federal, provincial and territorial Metro Vancouver. governments. Page 2 of 14 Metro Vancouver Transit Police Initiatives Related to Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation OVERVIEW OF TRANSIT of which two priorities have a direct connection to support for Indigenous POLICE INITIATIVES Peoples on and around transit, as follows: 2016-2020 Strategic Plan • Priority – Reducing Sex Offences Research has shown that sexual The Transit Police recognizes that its harassment and assault on public officers and civilian staff interact with transit is an issue worldwide. Indigenous Peoples in a variety of Indigenous youth, women and other contexts: as transit customers, as transit Indigenous persons with vulnerabilities employees and as community members have been identified as one ‘at risk’ surrounding the transit system. The 2016- group that uses public transit and, 2020 Transit Police Strategic Plan contains therefore, may be particularly many goals, objectives and actions to help vulnerable to this type of offending. improve Transit Police ability to respond Since 2014, the Transit Police has to and investigate incidents on and worked to raise awareness about the surrounding transit for vulnerable groups. issue of sexual offending on transit. A significantly enhanced and large scale Over and above responding to calls for advertising campaign took place on service, the community based Service Metro Vancouver transit between July Delivery Model (“SDM”) introduced in and October 2018, and expanded bus 2015 provides for increased opportunities advertising in summer 2019. to develop relationships and shared understanding between police and In 2018, a new sexual offences Indigenous Peoples. The Transit Police has investigation policy was approved and a committed Community Engagement rolled out, and training on sexual Team that is composed of six offence investigations occurred, which Neighbourhood Police Officers and two was enhanced by training on phased Client Services Officers. For police and interviewing. In addition, there was other law enforcement personnel, training on recognizing behaviours of understanding the unique history and common sexual offences on transit culture of Indigenous Peoples is an (e.g., groping, indecent acts and important part of interactions within the voyeurism). In 2019 Q4, Transit Police community on a daily basis. will be delivering presentations to Station Attendants, Transit Security and Transit Supervisors on recognizing Operational Priorities sexual offending behaviours on transit and Transit Police resources. The Transit Police work is further guided by Transit Police has worked closely with four publicly stated operational priorities, community partners to reduce Page 3 of 14 Metro Vancouver Transit Police Initiatives Related to Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation victimization and enhance victim support, such as Battered Women’s Community Engagement and Support Services, BC End Violence Relationship Building against Women, and BC Women’s Hospital – Sexual Assault Service. Strategic Action 2.1.1 of the Strategic Plan is to ‘Advance full implementation of the • Priority – Helping Vulnerable People in community-based Service Delivery Crisis Model.’ As part of the “SDM”, the six Transit Police Officers encounter Neighbourhood Police Officers (“NPOs”) Indigenous Peoples on transit on a have developed specialized knowledge daily basis, and some of those about the communities served by the individuals struggle with mental health transit system, and in particular the and poverty. The Transit Police works Community Service Area’s (“CSA”) unique closely with partners such as Police characteristics. Each NPO also focuses Mental Health Liaison Officers, health outreach activities to specific vulnerable teams and community organizations sector communities within Metro across Metro Vancouver to provide the Vancouver and their use of public transit. necessary assistance to those who are struggling with issues of mental health Cst. Kirk Rattray is the Transit Police NPO and other challenges. A significant for Vancouver East (CSA 2) and he also focus of this partnership work is on serves as a Transit Police Indigenous early intervention, crime prevention liaison. Cst. Rattray identifies as and referrals to community services. Indigenous and is currently a Board Director with the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre (“VACPC”). Transit Police Officer Cheryl Simpkin is another Indigenous officer and was recently appointed as Sergeant responsible for the Patrol Support Unit, formed in summer 2019. She too is actively involved in Indigenous outreach and support. Page 4 of 14 Metro Vancouver Transit Police Initiatives Related to Indigenous Peoples and Truth and Reconciliation o Musqueam Community Safety Forum – Provides safety information for members of the Musqueam community, organized by the Musqueam Safety Unit; o Waking the Canoe Ceremony – A Coast Salish tradition where canoes are “woken up” following the winter season; o Pulling Together Canoe Journey – This annual initiative links different First Nations communities throughout lower British Columbia. It aims to enhance the understanding between public service agencies